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Showing posts from January, 2018

Simple ways to release stress at work

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Some days you walk in with the smile on your face and some days the work gets too overwhelming it stresses you out. Stress happens to everyone and while your work might not necessarily be causing it, there are a few simple ways you can use to help you release stress while you are at work. The first thing you can do is to clean your work place. Sometimes looking at or sitting in a messy place can contribute to your stress. So, start by organising your files or re-arranging your items on your desk. A clear workspace will help give you a clear head. The second thing you can do is to take a time out. Staring too long at your computer screen can give you a headache. So take a time out and use it to either do simple stretches, or make yourself a cup of calming green tea. If you have any plants in your office, shifting your eyesight to nature can also help calm your nerves down. Creator Academy  has a range of courses to support you in building your spirit and strengths – so you ca

Generating a collaborative team

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Collaboration is like a team work. It is your ability to work well and negotiate with different people or group. When collaboration is present in a company, not only does work gets done fast, but it also allows you to have a high-performing organization. In order to generate a collaborative team, you must first understand the differences of every team member and use it to identify their strength. That way you can put the right individual together in order for them to collaborate. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have the same strength. For example, a person who works really fast will work well with a person who is always early to work. Or a person who has high public speaking skills will work well with a person who have high research skills. If you are a leader, invest in your team by sending them to seminar or courses that will help them learn the power of collaboration and working together. That way, they can have a better understanding on how to interact with their colle

A Boss vs. A Leader

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While every leader is a boss, not every boss is a leader. Why so? A boss is simply a position. It sits amongst the top position in a hierarchy. A leader on the other hand is your attitude and your actions. Often times, not all bosses know how to be a leader. So what makes one a leader? A leader takes the time out to lead by example. For instance, if she wants his workers to arrive to work early, a leader would take the lead by arriving earlier than his employees. On the other hand, if he wants to teach them to do a job well, he will take the time to do a background research to understand the needs of a specific job scope. While a boss gives orders, a leader asks for your help and does the work with you. A leader is not afraid to get his hands dirty and sees herself as an example. They don’t demand respect instead they obtain them by respecting others first. A leader has exemplary qualities and if you are thinking about becoming one, practise on your human skills as well as your

How to be a Team Player

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While it is true that some work better on their own, and sometimes even some job gets done when only one person is doing it; most of the time in life, team work is a must. After all, if we were meant to survive on our own, we will not have been created in the presence of other living. In your professional life, you will always be part of a team hence, it is important to remember how to work with others. To do so, the first thing you have to remember is to be respectful. If you have different opinions than others or do not agree with the way they do things, be respectful and try to explain your point of view, or ask them to explain their point politely. Remember to always communicate clearly and delegate work fairly. Most of the times work don’t get done because of ineffective communication. Avoid communication breakdown by asking your teammate if they understand their roles and if they are able to handle the workload delegated. Remember that everyone has different strengths th

Surviving Hardship

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Nothing last forever – neither the good times nor the bad. While it is easy going through good times, it is often hard to fathom reality when we are facing a bad time. Despite the same 24 hours given, it always almost seems like forever.  Bad situations are there as a test. It is there to either shape you, strengthen you or to remind you to be thankful. When facing hardship, first of all remind yourself that it will not last forever. Use the time to work on yourself. If you are a religious person, use it to be closer to your creator. If it is something that is out of your hand, like facing sickness, death or natural disasters – have faith that you will come out stronger. Sometimes tough times are there to teach you a lesson, or to reveal to you who your real friends are. So take your time to grieve if you have to, but wipe your tears after that and remind yourself that you will come out stronger. Creator Academy  has a range of courses to support you in building your

Sharpen Your Soft-Skills

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Since we first step foot into school we were taught the curriculum to prepare us for the work industry. We were taught mathematics and science as well as history and languages. While it is easier for us to measure our progress in these kinds of curriculum, we often forget the importance of soft skills. Soft skills are the skills required to integrate into society, this includes communication skills, your attitude and behaviour in social settings. While it is true that a good qualification can land you the job that you want, soft skills can help give you an edge over other people who are just as qualified as you. While you are on a job hunt, look for seminars that teach you soft skills like public speaking or grooming. You can also read a lot of motivational blogs online, like this one to help you understand how to be a better individual. It is never a waste of time to sharpen your soft skills as it will help you progress in life. Creator Academy  is a premier provider

Working with Different Generation Groups

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Last year, a lot of organization witness four different generations group working under one roof. We see the almost retired baby boomers are passing on their knowledge to Generation Z in order to keep the system in order. However, just like culture and languages, different generation proves to have different approaches to work. While Generation X appreciates respect and loyalty, Generation Y focuses more on progress and innovation, and sometimes the two perspectives do not mix. If you are one of the people who are working with different generation groups, it is important to remember to first respect each other’s views and methods. While you might have a different way of doing things or seeing things, your peers might not see it the same way. So instead of complaining, try and explain your point of view and remember to always collaborate. Creator Academy  is a premier provider of holistic and dynamic self-improvement courses and programmes where we innovate, elevate and

Embracing the Digital Change

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The year 2018 is said by most industry expert to be the year of digital change. So whether we like it or not, it is time to accept that technology is going to be an important part of our lives – especially in our professional lives. Most of the work that required man power can now be done by machines like taking orders and arranging documents. With the world relying heavily on machines, it is no longer a battle between two graduates, instead a battle between you and machines. What can you do that a machine cannot do? As far as knowledge goes, it is time to update your knowledge, be aware of the latest technology that can help you be more effective at work. While you do that, brush up on your skills. Technology are programmed to do precise works, so in order to keep up with them, you need to ensure your skills are sharp and you are able to multi-task. Remember that one thing a machine cannot replace is the soft skills and human touch, so whatever job you are doing, make sure yo

Re-Building Burned Bridges

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The older you grow the more you realise that people come and go. While it is true that the ones that are meant to be in your life will stay, as human sometimes we make mistakes and severe ties with our loved ones. If you are thinking about reconnecting with your loved ones, there a few simple tips you can follow. First of all, don’t be afraid to be the first to reach out. If a phone call sounds too overwhelming for you, start by writing a letter. Start by asking general questions or wishing that their lives are going good. Then, let them know that you want to apologise for not staying in contact and that you wish to change it. You can either choose to email or send it via messaging apps. Don’t worry if you don’t get any response. Sometimes people are busy and sometimes they need time to process, depending on how severe the last encounter was. However, it is important to remember that everyone will eventually appreciate the effort of you being the first one to reach out. So, if

Qualifications versus Work Ethics.

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When we were young, the things that we were often told is to study hard so that we can get a good job. So we strived for excellence since the day we set foot to school, and we worked hard to get into college only to find out that getting a job is not as easy even with our outstanding qualifications. So what is the problem? While we were taught algebra and science, we were never told the reality of the professional industry. The soft skills and etiquettes like coming in 5 minutes early for work or the right way to communicate with a superior. While to some it comes naturally, some struggle. It is important to remember that a good work ethic can get you a long way even with a ‘just above the water’ grades. At the end of the day, in the professional world you will be working with people and it is your work etiquette that will make it enjoyable and easier for other people to work with you. So if you are struggling to land on a dream job, work on your work etiquette.  Crea

Overcoming Glossophobia Or Fear Of Public Speaking

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Glossophobia happens to even the best of us. It’s that nervous feeling you get when you have to talk to a large number of audience, or have to present in front of your colleagues and board members. We might have experienced it happening to us or someone we know before – the loss of words, stumbling on sentences and at times even profuse sweating. However, there are simple ways you can practise to overcome the fear. First of all, make sure you practise your speech. The better you prepare yourself the more confident you will be. It is forgetting your speech that will fuel your fear. Practise your speech in front of a mirror or have your close friends or family listen to you and give their feedback. This will help ease you out. On the day of the speech itself, if looking at other people scares you, focus on an object or the wall behind you. Focusing one other things will help you forget that there are audience in front of you, ensuring you deliver a smooth speech. Most importantl

How To Network Everywhere You Go

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Networking is important to your professional life, no matter what industry you work in – even if your job does not require you to communicate directly with people. Having a good network can help you in a lot of ways. It can help you land the dream job you want, or help give you a new business opportunity. There are simple tips you can follow to expand your networking. First of all, be friendly in a social setting and try to talk to new people. Say you are invited to your colleague’s birthday party. Instead of just talking to your group of colleagues while you are there, talk to other attendees. Start with a common nominator, ask them how they are related to the birthday girl/boy. Remember that everyone always has something to offer, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. For example, you might work in the finance industry and you met someone who works as a videographer. While it doesn’t seem relatable now, your company might need to produce a corporate video one day and bec

How To Give Clear Directions

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One of the quality of a good leader is their ability to give out clear directions. Clear directions are instructions that are precise. It tells your employees what exactly that is needed from them and when you need them by. It is an essential tool a leader should possess as it allows an effective work system to take place. Before you give out instruction, make sure that you understand the task beforehand. For example, you need your employee to do a marketing presentation, you must first understand what a marketing presentation should comprise of. That way, if your employee needs clarification, you can easily explain. You also have to be clear about the specifics and the dateline. For example, you want a marketing presentation for the first quarter of 2018 by the end of this week. Giving such detailed instruction will enable your employee to understand what is needed from them and when they need to complete their task. When clear instructions are given, you will enhance product

Getting Rid Of Toxic Surroundings

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Have you ever feel like luck is never on your side? Or that wherever you go, trouble seems to follow you? Well, the problem might not actually be you, but your surroundings.  Surroundings play an important role in an individual’s mental health and well-being. For example, imagine hanging out with friends who loves to go fishing. Chances are, even if you initially don’t like fishing, you will learn to love the sport. Same work on other aspects of life. If you hang out with people who love wasting time, you will follow in their footsteps. This new year, get rid of your toxic surroundings. Stop hanging around people that are attracted to problems and negativity. Instead, make new friends who are motivated and positive. Start hanging out at places that will make you productive. It can be a friend’s house or even the library. Creator Academy  is a premier provider of holistic and dynamic self-improvement courses and programmes where we innovate, elevate and create learning

What To Do When You’ve Made A Mistake

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Mistakes are part of human’s life. Everyone is bound to make mistakes, some more than others. It is also not a good feeling to have, knowing that you have done wrong. However, instead of dwelling about it, you should keep your heads up and accept the fact that you have done a mistake. There are a few things you should and can do when you did wrong. The first thing to do is to own up to it. Admit that you have done a mistake, whether you are admitting it to yourself or to someone else. The second thing you should do is assess the situation. How did it go wrong? That way you can learn from it. The last thing to do is ask yourself if you can do it again the right way. This might be useful in situation like handing out the wrong report or giving your client the wrong order. However, in more complex cases like buying the wrong shares or failing an exam, just remember that while it is an expensive lesson, it is still something worth learning and remembering. Creator Academy  

Embracing Changes

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“Change is the only constant thing in life.” This prominent quote talks a lot of sense. Changes are a part of life and even though it is not always comfortable, it is necessary. Why so? It is with changes that we learn and grow. If we remain idle in our comfort zone, not only will life be boring, it will also be pointless. Everyone has a purpose in life and in order to pursue it, we have to learn and embrace changes. We experience changes, big and small since the first day we were born. Remember how babies always get the diapers changed in order to keep them clean? Remind yourself that while it might seem scary, changes can be a good thing. In order to embrace changes, you have to accept the fact that nothing in life lasts forever, neither the good things nor the bad. Remind yourself that changes are there to help shape you into the best version of yourself. Start accepting changes with an open mind and have faith that it will lead you to where you are meant to be. Cr

What Not To Put On Social Media

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Social media is becoming an important part of our lives nowadays. It is where we upload pictures from our vacation and special life events, it is how we stay connected with our high school friends as well as friends we met along our travels. It is also a place where we share our thoughts, feelings and even opinions. However, there are certain things that we should not share on social media. As we already know, social media takes away our privacy and whether we realise it or not, what we shared on social media can affect us in a lot of ways. Here are some things that you should avoid sharing on social media; your arguments with your partner or any ill-intent you have on your partner or your friend. Leave it, not everybody needs to know. Avoid posting pictures that are too provocative as you might have relatives or colleagues on your social media and some things are better kept behind the doors. Creator Academy  is a premier provider of holistic and dynamic self-improve

Why You Should Start Writing Every Day

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Maybe writing is not part of your job scope and maybe writing is neither your strength nor your passion. However writing can be very beneficial to your life. Even if you don’t think you are good at it, practice writing every day. Not only will it improve your language, it will also help you reflect on your life and remember things. Writing things down is especially a good habit to have in the professional world. Imagine being in a meeting and trying to remember every single agenda that was said, chances are you are bound to forget something. Not only that, when you write things down you are saving yourself from being accused of not doing your job. For example, if a superior tells you that he had told you to finish a report last week, you can show him the notes that you have taken down in regards to the tasks given. When you practice writing things down, you will also become more organised. So next time you are at work or walking around, keep a pen and paper nearby. Cr

Guides To Help You Save More Money

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While money is not everything, it is an essential part of our life today. Now that the holiday season is over, a lot of us will have the incline to knuckle down and save more money for future purposes. It doesn’t matter what your reasons are for saving up, it is never a bad idea to accumulate more money in your saving account, and here are a few ways you can do it. For those of you driving long journey to work, consider taking public transports or carpooling. Not only will you avoid peak hour’s traffic, you can also cut petrol cost by either sharing it with your friends, or driving less. To top it off, you will also save money on paying for parkings. Another way to do it is to make it a habit to empty your change into a coin box. Most people hate coins as they are heavy but instead of spending it on junk food why not put it in a piggy bank that you keep on your work desk or on your bedside table? You will be surprised at how much you end up with at the end of every month.

The Risk Of Micro-Managing

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Micro-managing is an act to control or observe every little process or action of a person. When someone is being micro-managed, they can feel uncomfortable and not motivated to work. Micro-managing is almost equivalent as telling someone that you do not trust them at all and you have no confidence that they can do anything right. Besides having a negative impact on your employees, it also has a negative impact on yourself on your organization. Micro-managing takes time. When you focus too much on the little things, you have no time to focus on the bigger picture, you might also have little time left to manage your own work. To top it off, micro-managing often leads to burnout. Here’s an example, have you ever seen new mothers gets so tired because they have to keep an eye on their baby 24/7 with little sleep? That’s the exact same impact micro-management has on your body. So instead of doing so, learn to relax and let go. Give out tasks and have faith that your employees and c

How To Prepare Yourself For A Job Interview

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An interview is the first step you take after graduating, it’s the key that helps you open the door that leads to your dream career. So, while an interview might only last 10 to 20 minutes long, you will want to prepare yourself well. The first thing you should do when you receive an invitation is to do a thorough research on the company you are having an interview with. What is their product? What are their values? Most companies would want to work with someone who share their values. The second thing you need to prepare is your copy of resume and all the documents that are related to the position you are interviewing for – that includes certificates and portfolios. The last thing you need to prepare is your attire. While it is true one should not judge a book by its cover, you should not take the power of first impression for granted. In the professional world, how you carry yourself matters. If you are not sure how to dress – dress formally. Wear a suit – you can never go wrong

Using Mini-Missions To Help You Stay Motivated

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Mini-missions are basically a task or an assignment that does not require as much effort and can be done immediately. There are 24 hours in a day and sometimes we don’t even know what we are doing. When we’re not at work, we are consumed by television and when we don’t have anything to do at work, we aimlessly scroll through our Facebook page looking for cheap thrills. Why don’t you give yourself mini-missions instead to help you be productive and stay motivated? There are a lot of simple tasks you can do every day. For example, if you’re at work and it seems to be slow-moving, set yourself for a few yoga move that you can do on your table, or aim to read 2 to 3 articles about motivation, or better – a skill you are trying to pick up on like bitcoin investment or building a website. When you are at home, aim to clean your refrigerator or learn how to knit for example. Mini-missions not only keeps you productive, it allows you to exercise your brain. It is easy to feel demotiva

Learning To Love Solitude

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Solitude is defined as a state or situation of being on your own. While most people associate being alone as being lonely, it is important to remember that the two does not necessarily define each other. In fact, there are a lot of people who prefer being alone, but never feels lonely while there are a few who are never alone but tends to feel lonely. Solitude can be a great tool to help a person relax and destress. Jack Fong, a sociologist at California State Polytechnic University who has studied solitude said that “when people take these moments to explore their solitude, not only will they be forced to confront who they are, they just might learn a little bit about how to out-manoeuvre some of the toxicity that surrounds them in a social setting.” What Fong is saying is that when we remove ourselves from the distractions surrounding us, we allow ourselves to be deeper connected to our inner thoughts, leading to self-discovery and a better understanding of how we function.

Using Anger To Fuel Your Ambition

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Being human we are always filled with emotion and while some see it as a weakness, emotions can be very powerful if you know how to use it well. One of the emotion associated to negativity is anger. However, do you know that you can learn to harness anger and change it into grit and motivation to fuel your ambition? What do you think of when you’re angry? Usually you are mad at people or the world and you will have a strong feeling of wanting to prove them wrong. Use that feeling to motivate you. For example, you are angry because you didn’t get the job you wanted despite spending your time studying the company, use that to motivate yourself to work harder and prove them that you deserve better. Anger, when expressed the right way can result in good changes. According to research conducted by Henry Evans and Colm Foster, emotional intelligence experts and authors of Step Up: Lead in Six Moments That Matter, anger is actually useful when harnessed and controlled because it fos

Simple Ways To Take Care Of Yourself When You Are Busy

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Maybe it’s just one of those days where you have a hectic schedule or maybe you are a busy bee that thrives on having a jam-packed schedule. While being busy and filling up your hours with work and errands can be a good thing, sometimes we tend to forget to put in one of the most important task of all – taking care of ourselves. Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be tedious. You don’t have to go out of your way to spend a one hour spa session or take a 30-minutes bath. When you are busy, little things mean a lot. For example, while working on your report, take a 5 minutes break every now and then to wash your face and refresh your eyes. Or when you need to commute, take public transportation instead, so you can rest and maybe listen to some music therapy. Little things mean a lot and your body and mind will thank you later. After all, there is no way you can manage a hectic schedule when you are sick and recovering from a sickness takes a longer time than putting effort t

Why Looking Back Can Be A Good Thing

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We often hear the saying, “move on and don’t look back”, but looking back can actually be a good thing. Why so? When you look back on your past you can have an in-depth reflection of yourself. Instead of using it to look back on the things you’ve left behind, use it as a tool to help you learn or introspect. When you take a look back on yourself, focus on how far you have come. This will motivate you to go further in life. Next, focus on the lessons you have learnt. If you have experienced a failure or a heartbreak, ask yourself what have you learnt from it? The only way to move forward is to learn from past mistakes. When you are having a bad day, looking back on your past can also help make things  better. Think about the good times you have had in the past. Reminiscing good memories can help you forget about the problems you are facing. You can also use it as a reminder. Remind yourself of the tough times you have had in the past and how you overcame it. This will indir

The Power Of Appreciation

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Have you ever had a favourite teacher in school who is always nice to you and because of that, you never miss her class and always complete your assignments? There is a simple psychology behind that. William James, a well-known psychologist and philosopher said that, “the deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.” A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected of them. It makes them feel good about themselves and motivates them to continuously do a better job. This is beneficial for both your personal and professional life. Imagine coming home to a partner that shares the house chore without being asked or an employee that hands in their report before you told them to. Start showing appreciation by saying words like, “thank you”, “I appreciate it” or any other words that gives a positive impact and watch how people’s behaviour around you change. Creator Academy offers a wide range of training courses to help you achiev

The Power Of Listening

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When we talk about communication, the top words associated to it are usually “talk” or “discuss”. However do you know, that in order for communication to be effective, you must first be good at listening? Communication works both ways and all the time, it needs a messenger and the listener. A person’s ability to listen will determine whether or not he or she is a good communicator. Here is one of the biggest reason why listening works for you – it gives you a better understanding of what kind of responses and messages are needed from you. By actively listening, you can identify more than what’s uttered from someone’s mouth, you can also capture someone’s feeling from their tone. For example, you handed in your project and your boss’s feedback is, “okay.” There are certain ways to interpret it. If he or she says it with a high-pitched tone, it would mean that your work is satisfactory where as if he or she says it in an angry tone you might want to do better next time. Try lis

Travelling Without Leaving Home

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It sounds impossible doesn’t it? But, it’s actually not. The best way to travel without leaving home is by reading books. Ever read a book that is so well written that you can imagine being there? Like when the author describes a cafĂ© in Italy and for the amount of time you are reading it, you can feel your body being transported to the venue? A book allows you to let your imagination wander, it is a way to escape your reality without actually leaving it. While travelling sounds like the better option to de-stress, not all of us have the luxury to do so. Reading book not only allows us to wander beyond where we are, it also enriches our mind with knowledge – no matter what kind of book you are reading. So you are reading a fictional novel, maybe you won’t be enriching your brain with the “wisdom of the world” but you are still improving your vocabulary. So next time you feel like you need to take a break and run away, pick up a book instead – and pair it with your favourite cup

Easy Ways To Be Healthy

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Being healthy is important to every individual as it contributes to longevity. However, most people think that staying healthy requires a lot of work. Hence, a lot of people are not willing to adopt the healthy lifestyle in fear they have to trade rest time with gym or their favourite food with tasteless food. The reality is, being healthy doesn’t have to be boring and it doesn’t require you to make drastic life changes. There are a few simple ways for you to be healthy without sacrificing too much. For example, make it a habit to always have a bottle of mineral water with you. This way, when you are thirsty you will reach out for it first instead of putting in the effort to buy a cola from a convenient store. Another way to do it is by putting healthy vegetables and food in front in your refrigerator, that way you will trick your brain into eating these healthy food as it is easier to reach for. The more you trick your brain in such manner, the better your body will react to it