Sital Ruparelia

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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CHARITY WALKS

Sunday 8th May: London (5 Miles)

Sunday 22nd May: Birmingham (10 Km)

A quick blog post to let you know about 2 charity walks I’ve organized for May of this year.

Here’s the quick summary below. Scroll down for the full details

THE QUICK SUMMARY

• Two different 5 mile walks – one in London, one in Birmingham (pick the most convenient)
• NO fund raising and NO sponsorship needed (really – you don’t have to raise a penny!)
• Just pay £20 entry fee and 100% of that will go to charity
• All the funds will go towards my challenge to raise £16,000 to educate 10 girls in India for the next 10 years (click here for details)
• On the day we walk, talk and go for a drink in the pub afterwards! (or if you prefer, bring a picnic!)
• Kids and pensioners welcome for a slightly lower entry fee (see below)
• What’s more, 2 beautiful locations to walk:

Sunday May 8th – London’s Hampstead Heath (11.30am start)

Sunday May 22nd – Birmingham’s Sutton Park (11.30am start)

So are you in?

If you want to join us – please reply ASAP and reserve your spot! All we need to know is which walk and how many people are coming with you.
Email: sital.charitychallenge@gmail.com

THE FULL DETAILS

“LOSE 20 POUNDS IN 10 WEEKS”

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I recently interviewed Marianne Cantwell about ‘Free Range Humans’ and free range careers and lifestyles.

If you’re struggling to find one job or one career that fits you, I strongly suggest you listen to Marianne’s words carefully and take a close look at her 21 day programme. It will help you create your perfect career when no one job fits.

Sital:  Marianne, you brand your business under the “Free Range Humans” banner. What the hell is a free range human?!

Marianne: Free Range Humans are people who have escaped the ‘battery cage’ of corporate jobs, commuting and offices.

They have created their own career where they are their own boss, they get paid for doing what they love, and they roam free in the 9-5 (some of us choose to work location independent from beaches in Bali while others love the freedom to do what we love from home)

Sital: Why would someone want to become a free range human?

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Think about the last time you flew on an aircraft.

Before taking off, I’m sure the flight attendants ran through safety procedures and reminded you that, in the event of an emergency, you should put our own oxygen mask on first before trying to help others.

This is useful advice in our professional lives too. All too often we find ourselves chasing our tails, skipping meals and generally running ourselves into the ground in an effort to help clients and colleagues.

I’m just as guilty as the next person (as anyone who has worked with me will tell you!).

But in recent years, I’ve come to realise that when I do take much better care of myself and put my own oxygen mask on first, I’ve become much better at looking after the needs of clients, colleagues and employers. I’ve more energy and more creativity in the ‘tank’ for others simply because I looked after myself better.

Here are 5 very obvious (but often ignored) ways to take better care of yourself  - and in turn help you better serve your clients and colleagues:

1. Fuel yourself correctly by eating healthily 70% of the time

2. Do some exercise 2-3 times a week

3. Develop some habits to help you relax and switch-off regularly

4. Disconnect from technology one day a week to give your poor brain a rest

5. Get 10% more sleep than you currently do

Regardless of what you’re trying to achieve in your professional life right now, practising excellent self-care will directly impact on your performance and success.

So go on, put your oxygen mask on first this week.

The Zen Guide To Job Searching

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Joyeux Noel

Feliz Navidad

Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Shub Naya Baras

Buone Feste Natalizie

Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Mandarin)

Whichever words you use and however you plan to spend the next few days, very best wishes.

2010 Review, 2011 Predictions

An Interview with economist Mitul Kotecha

Sital: “Mitul, as 2010 draws to a close how would you sum up the year? What have been the highs and lows from an economic viewpoint?”

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“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.

He hardly knows which is which.

He simply pursues his vision of excellence in whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.

To him he is always doing both.”

- James A Michener