Sital's Blog

I’m fed up with the media talking down the prospects for graduates. Yes it’s tough out there for today’s graduates looking for work. Having graduated during the the recession of the early 1990s, I understand first hand what it’s like looking for jobs during a recession.

But in many ways, today’s graduates are also the luckiest generation of graduates there has ever been (really).

They have the tools, technology and knowledge to turn ideas into opportunities and income with virtually zero expenditure. What’s more, they potentially have a global market place to leverage their product or idea. All that’s required is the seed of an idea, passion, hard work and the willingness to just have a go.

So over the coming months I’m going to feature graduates who have ignored all the noise about the economy. Individuals who have got off their butt and just had a go at a business idea or made slightly different career choices. Hopefully it will inspire others to follow suit.

The first interview is with Poonam Kataria. She has no website, uses a Gmail email account and uses Facebook to promote her cake-making business whilst using her mum’s kitchen to do all her baking.

Who says you need lots of cash to get started..?

An Interview with Poonam Kataria of “Spoony Cakes”

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“Don’t wait, the time will never be just right”
- Napoleon Hill

It’s September, the summer’s over, the days are getting shorter and soon enough the weather will begin to change too.

And soon enough you’ll forget that big goal or great idea you came up with over the summer holidays.

You know…..your plan to change jobs, shift careers or starting a side business to run from home. Or maybe you decided on moving abroad or taking a sabbatical. Or possibly writing a book / starting a new blog?

Whatever the idea, the key is to get started quickly using these 5 tips:

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Decisions Decisions

It’s summer, everyone is away and nothing happens right?

Most people have a vague idea about the type of change they’d like to make (even if they never share them with anyone else).

Maybe it’s a new career, maybe it’s a move to a life near the sea or the countryside. Or maybe it’s the dream to become self employed or have a flexible freelance career to create that elusive work-life balance.

But despite these grand plans and very good intentions, many people never get their ideas off ground as they simply overthink things.

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6 years ago this week I had a big wake-up call.

Whilst on the verge of signing the biggest consulting deal of my career – I suddenly became ill.

I woke up after a Saturday afternoon nap with sharp abdominal pains. Within an hour I couldn’t walk. Within two hours I found myself in a hospital bed.

The pain was caused by a rare colonic condition called Epiploic Appendagitis.

Whilst not life threatening in any way, I was in excruciating pain and found myself on morphine for much of my 10 day stay in hospital. This was followed by several months of recuperation and, still today, I have some associated back pain resulting from the period.

But looking back, it was probably the wake-up call I needed. Whilst I lost the big consulting deal and the big pay check, it gave me the opportunity to learn some priceless lessons

1. I learned to put my oxygen mask on first
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Want To Accelerate Your Job Search Before The Summer Break…?

Many individuals want to do “meaningful work” or find careers that are “more fulfilling”.

But they’re putting it off until “some day” when the kids have left home, they’ve paid off the mortgage and they’ve some time to breathe.

Many leaders struggle to engage and retain employees.

They keep dangling carrots (fancy titles, pay rises and bonuses) to keep people happy – but that’s simply not sustainable commercially. And there’s plenty of scientific proof to show that money does NOT motivate people. Whereas helping your workforce achieve meaning and purpose does.

Here’s a much faster and more effective solution to these problems:

1. Define meaningful work
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1.  You fail to make yourself the priority

Your main focus is on other people’s priorities – your clients, your boss, your stakeholders, your team.  Paradoxically, by not focusing on yourself, this leads to short-changing the very people you’re trying to help.

2. You spend little or no time staying in contact with ex-clients, colleagues, managers or peers

Opportunities, referrals and support come from warm contacts who know you and know your work.  How often do you stay in touch?

3.  You can’t articulate your value proposition

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Today is Leonardo Da Vinci’s birthday.

That’s right, 558 years ago today, one of the smartest people that ever lived was born.

A genius, some would say.

A Genius…..Why?

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