James Sweetman & Associates
E-mail newsletter of James Sweetman & Associates
Issue No: 20, Issue Date: September 2006
Act to Create
An article by Jack Canfield, America's Success Coach

If you want to live your dreams, not only must you decide what you want, turn your dream into measurable goals, break those goals down into specific action steps, and visualize and affirm your desired outcomes, - you must start taking action.

Click here to read the rest of Jack's article

Emotional Intelligence
Can I increase my levels of Emotional Intelligence?

Do you want to be more effective at inspiring, motivating and leading your team? Do you want to enhance your networking and relationship management skills? The answer lies in the realm of your emotional intelligence.
Click here to learn more.

Top Tips - Goal-Setting
Want to kickstart the last quarter of 2006? Below are 14 great Goal-Setting Tips.

1. Write down your goals.
‘Ink them, don’t just think them’. The act of writing out your goals will make them more real. Make sure you keep them some place visible where you can view them regularly.

2. Positively worded, with Positive Impact
Do your goals have a positive intent? For example, ‘loosing weight’ is not a positive goal. Having a ‘healthy lifestyle’ is.

3. Be Specific
Vague goals achieve vague results. Get specific about the exact goals you wish to achieve. Make sure you place a target date beside each goal; otherwise there is the danger of placing action on the long finger!

Find out the rest...


Dare to Dream
“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice.”

As humans we all have the unquenchable desire to dream of a better life. In five short years it will be September 2011, how do you see your life and career five years from now? In just 3650 days it will be September 2016, how do you intend spending your days 10 years from now? Remember the life you live in the future will be the result of today’s dreams and actions.

It is easy to fall into a rut, spending each day responding to life’s urgencies and the demands of others whilst forgetting that we are the designers of our own lives. As we enter the last quarter of 2006, my challenge to you is simply to start dreaming again. What dreams do you have for your life and for your career or business? Where would you like to see yourself in 10 or 20 years time? What have you always dreamed about doing but felt too scared to try?

If this seems a little daunting, remember as children we were expert dreamers, so grab a pen and answer the questions under the eight headings below and dare to DREAM BIG!

1. Career/Work
Describe your ideal day at work, what sort of people would you like to work with? What’s your working environment like? Who are your ideal customers?

2. Health & Fitness
What does your ideal self look and feel like? What do you want your level of fitness to be? What health or wellness goals do you have?

3. Personal Relationships
What sort of relationship would you like to be in? If you are married or in a relationship, how could that relationship be even better? What sort of person do you have to be, for your ideal relationship to flourish?

Click here to read the rest of this article.

If you feel your career (or indeed life) has stalled contact James Sweetman at 087 2492774 or via e-mail today and learn how bespoke Personal & Career Coaching will benefit you.

Editors Letter
James Sweetman Welcome to the September 2006 edition of Next Steps.

September is a popular month for making resolutions and setting goals. Therefore the theme this month is 'dreaming', or in business speak 'visioning' the process that has to precede goal-setting.

In the second of our two part feature on Emotional Intelligence, we pose the question 'can you increase your emotional intelligence?'

To ensure you don't slip back into the same old routine this September, why not set a goal or two for yourself. The Top Tips section this month will show you how.

James Sweetman

Contact Us
For more information on all the services provided by James Sweetman & Associates, visit the website, telephone me personally at 087 2492774, or send me an email.


The Power of YES
An Evening Course with a Difference

• Are you up for trying something new?
• Would you love to be more creative and spontaneous?
• Give your confidence a shot in the arm?

Over 6 Tuesday evenings The Big Yes Company will teach you simple improvisation techniques in a fun environment that will inspire your whole life.

Starting Tuesday 26th September (7.30pm – 9.30pm) Oscailt Centre, 8 Pembroke Road, Dublin 2
€150 for 6 weeks (€120 for bookings made by Sept. 10th)
Places Limited

Curious? Contact Maureen or Michael at The Big Yes Company 087 960 8577 or drop them an email (thebigyes@eircom.net)

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Final Thought - Sources of Inspiration

Leadership is often defined as 'the art of inspiration.' To stay inspired and motivated it is important to know our own sources of inspiration. One of my sources of inspiration is nature, another is art. I was recently introduced to Sculpture in the Parklands which features some of the most innovative land and environmental sculptures in Ireland. It is worth checking out.