Planning your Future

Planning your Future: "Dealing with blocks and other hazards

If you lack confidence, have writer's block or are held back by any of the other psychological barriers that stop us doing things, buy the book (there must be one for overcoming every fear and obstacle known to mankind) and don't just read it - take action.

Staying with the dream of wanting to write a best seller, let's take a look at a few steps you could take. There are hundreds of books on writing and finding an agent or a publisher. Or you could try self-publishing. Another (much cheaper) option is setting up your own website, perhaps as a forum for aspiring writers to discuss ideas and publish short stories. To make money, you could have a members only subscription area, where you publish a chapter of your novel every month - good motivation to get it finished!"

Planning your Future

Planning your Future: "Planning - How might this work in practice?

Let's say you want to be a famous novelist. What do you need in order to achieve this? A fantastic manuscript and a publisher would help. What do you need to create a fantastic manuscript? A great plot, a decent style and the discipline to write. How will you go about developing these?

Your answer will depend on your experience so far. Perhaps you have already had some short stories published and have a terrific idea for a novel, but you have a problem sticking to a long term project. To overcome this, you need to decide exactly what is holding you back and then do something about it. This could involve making some changes. If lack of time is the problem, get up an hour earlier, cut down on your TV viewing, skip the after-work trip to the pub on Friday, get a babysitter once a week, delegate some of the housework - whatever it takes."

Planning your Future

Planning your Future: "Planning

Dreams stay dreams because they seem impossible. This is a great reason to put off moving towards them! To get beyond this, you need to make a plan in which you break the big goals into small, manageable steps.

Whatever you goal, if you reduce it to a number of smaller goals, you'll find there is something you can do today, or tomorrow at the very latest. For example, buy a book, search for information on the internet, ring a college about courses or download some free tutorials. Put your plan on paper, in whatever form you like and be sure to include timescales for all the steps. Review and update your plan regularly.

There is only one person who can make your dreams happen and that is you. Stop holding yourself back - write your plan now. If it will take 5 years to reach your goal, make a five year plan. On Saturday or Sunday make a list of things to do in the coming week and each month for the next year. Cross them off the list as you do them and review and update your plan every week."

Distance learning courses - Business Degrees

Earn your degree online distance learning courses: "Business Degrees Online

You can now study both for a wide range of business qualifications online, reaching degree and postgraduate level without having to give up your day job. The University of Sunderland offers a 2 year BTEC HND and a third year to convert this to a BA in Business Studies.

Postgraduate students can study for a BTEC diploma and on completion, and this can be topped up to an internationally recognised MBA.

Entry requirements for the MBA are Edexcel Diploma in Management Studies or a CMI Executive Diploma.

Students must be 23, with 3 years' managerial experience. Students can start at one of four times during the year.

For more information go to
:http://www.rdi.co.uk/prof_path/distlearn/documents/business_001.pdf

"

Finance your studies, student loans Part 3

Finance your studies, student loans: "Then look at your income and outgoings. Will you have to cut back on the number of hours you work to make time for your studies? Do you have a partner who can take over some of the responsibilities? Make a list of outgoings and income and get a realistic picture of how much extra cash you need to fund your studies.

Now that you know what you need, how do you get your hands on it? This will depend on your individual circumstances and where you live.

I'll be adding more information on how loans and grants work in different parts of the world, but to get you started, here are a few links:

For information on student loans in the US:

US Student Loans

This site also offers a book which you can download free (English and Spanish versions) giving information on different types of loan, amounts available, how to apply, and repayment details."

For direct links to these pages and to links for UK and Australian students, go to CoolerCareers

For information on CVs and Job Application Forms go to:9 Steps to CV Success

Finance your studies, student loans. Part 2

Finance your studies, student loans: "Contact employers, professional associations and your local careers guidance service to make sure the course you are doing is recognised and relevant to what you want to do.

Once you've established that you're on the right track, work out approximately how much the course is likely to cost. You probably won't be able to come up with an exact figure, as the cost of living will change and you may take longer than anticipated to complete parts of the course, or decide to study additional modules as you go.

Then look at your income and outgoings. Will you have to cut back on the number of hours you work to make time for your studies? Do you have a partner who can take over some of the responsibilities? Make a list of outgoings and income and get a realistic picture of how much extra cash you need to fund your studies."

Finance your studies, student loans

Finance your studies, student loans: "Most career change involves an element of retraining and, in some cases, taking on a major commitment such as a first or postgraduate degree. Whatever stage of your life you are at, funding extra study can be expensive and this is particularly the case if you are a mature student with responsibilities such as a family and mortgage.

How can you ensure that further training is cost effective? The first thing to do is to research your intended pathway with great care. You don't want to get into debt and then find the qualification you've worked hard for is worthless. I've made this point elsewhere, but it's so important it's worth repeating.

Contact employers, professional associations and your local careers guidance service to make sure the course you are doing is recognised and relevant to what you want to do.

Once you've established that you're on the right track, work out approximately how much the course is likely to cost. You probably won't be able to come up with an exact figure, as the cost of living will change and you may take longer than anticipated to complete parts of the course, or decide to study additional modules as you go."

Ideas for a Home Business

Ideas for a Home Business: "What are you good at? What do you feel passionate about? Is there a hobby that takes up every spare minute you have? Is there a subject about which you are highly knowledgable? Do you enjoy aspects of your present job and could you do these as a freelance? Do you enjoy using certain skills which could make you money if you developed them further?If so, you could consider turning your hobby into a small business."

Earn your degree online distance learning courses

Earn your degree online distance learning courses: "Distance learning with the University of London External Programme

Regardless of which part of the world you live in, you can earn your degree online via the University of London External Degree Programme, which will enable you to gain an internationally recognised qualification at either Diploma, Bachelor or Masters level.

The university has examination centres in 140 countries and it is possible for students to receive local support in more than 45 countries. To find out what is available, click on the link below:University of London
For information on career change go to:CoolerCareers

Earn your degree online distance learning courses

Earn your degree online distance learning courses: "Some Important Considerations before you take up Distance Learning.


First of all, you must ensure that the course is right for you. Ask yourself the following questions:

Will it lead to the career you want?

Is it accredited?

Is the qualification accepted by the profession you wish to enter?

You can find answers to these questions by consulting a careers advisor or getting in touch with a company in the industry. Speak to someone in the HR department and ask them if the degree you are considering is acceptable. If not, ask exactly which qualifications you need for the job you're after. Alternatively, you could contact the relevant professional body and ask for advice. Imagine spending 4 or 5 years and a large sum of money taking a course and then finding that it isn't what you need. It doesn't bear thinking about. So check it out thoroughly before you go ahead."

Earn your degree online distance learning courses

Earn your degree online distance learning courses: "The Open University


The Open Univeristy is the UK's only university dedicated solely to distance learning and came fifth in the national rankings for teaching quality in universities in 2004, placing it above both Oxford and University College London.

The OU started was established in 1969, with the first students starting on foundation courses in January 1971. Initially, tuition was provided via TV and correspondence course, combined with some more traditional university classes.

The university continued to grow and during the 80s added a number of professional training courses to reflect the need for continuing career development. The business school is now the largest in Europe.

As technology progressed, the OU introduced new teaching media such as cassettes, video, CDs and the internet. OU teaching materials are now used in many traditional universities and colleges.

A huge variety of courses is now on offer, ranging from short courses to postgraduate degrees and teaching certificates. Teaching is delivered in various ways, depending on the course studied. And a number of courses are also offered to students outside the UK."