Mantra Training & Development

My Journey to Kokoda

2012-05-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

Notes from my journey

In the footsteps of heroes is what we were told the experience would be when trekking with Kokoda Spirit , along with a great team providing the history and the relevant information at distinct points along the track. I was so honoured to be part of this in April of 2012 and being able to attend the Anzac Day ceremony at Isurava was one of the big highlights. This year was the 70^th Anniversary of the Battle of Kokoda and it was an extraordinary experience and one I will never forget.

In this blog I have shared some of the experiences with you knowing it's really not going to give you a real feeling of what it was like, just a glimpse. I think it’s an experience you have to be there to really understand the emotion, the physical and the mental challenge that you go through from moment to moment.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank some very special people who kept me safe and made this experience so rich and rewarding, Bill Kelly our Trek Guide who kept us all motivated with his genuine care and consideration, thank you also for volunteering to be my toilet buddy (especially at Bombers Camp), Francis my Porter who looked after me day and night keeping me safe and always laughing at with me not at me, John our Trek leader always so serious, strong and a true leader and Sia our Trek Master who has an incredible presence about him and his soul is truly kind, thank you for carrying my day pack when I just couldn’t anymore. All these wonderful people were from Kokoda Spirit. Thank you to all the guys I trekked with you truly were gentleman and especially Phil who encouraged me all the way, it was a pleasure to meet you all.

I had been in Training for about 6 Months now and every week apart from 2weeks rest I had been working out 3 times a week and walking up Mt Majura. I had been walking with 10kg in my pack for the last month and had even walked Black Mt Tower, and I felt ready and that my fitness was pretty good. I rested two days before leaving for port Moresby and was excited to be able to have a break from work and experience something that I had been drawn to emotionally for many years.

I arrive at Port Moresby airport about 4pm on the 17^thApril to find Helen from Kokoda Spirit waiting to take me to the Gateway Hotel. We all meet up at 7pm to go over the plan and what has to happen in the morning. We also meet all trekkers and Bill Kelly the Trek guide from Kokoda Spirit. The reality of being the only girl in the group starts to sink in and I feel a little uncertain about what to expect. After the induction and safety brief I’m off to get a good night’s sleep ready for tomorrow.

Day 1 - Owers Corner to Uberi

Up bright and early making sure my pack is ready and I have a good breakfast as I wonder what we will eat for the next 8 days. I have done lots of preparation and think I have everything covered that I could possibly need. I was the first to hit reception at 7.30am ready to go. I was excited and nervous at the same time. Last night was like Christmas eve when you are a kid, you toss and turn and can’t sleep till 3am. We get into the bus with all our gear ready to head to Owers’ Corner.

First we are given a tour of Port Moresby and it is a real eye opener to see the poverty and how many people just sit in the streets and you can tell by the bars on all the shops how it is also seems to be rid with crime. We head toward the Warf and then out to Bomana war cemetery where all the history stories began. When we arrived the feeling was one of amazement that so many were buried here and the other was of peacefulness as they had been laid to rest and Bomana is so beautifully kept.

We then headed off the McDonalds Corner and it was lovely to stop and see some local children and hear the history of what happened in the area 70 years ago. We drove for a bit longer and the further we got away from Port Moresby the nicer the landscape.

We arrived at Owers’ Corner and laid all our packs out on the ground and then we had lunch before were allocated our porters. My Porters name was Francis, and he was tall enough but so thin and I looked at my pack and thought “how on earth is he going to carry my pack”? Oh no I have got too much stuff in my pack, then Francis said he needed to repack to fit his stuff in. What an idiot I was, where on earth did I think he was going to put his things.

Here we are ready to get started on this amazing journey. We knew today would be pretty easy as it was only about 3 hours to camp, how hard could it be?

Well holly shit it was hot, and so humid you had sweat running down your face, my glasses fogged up in 2 minutes and the first sign of a hill and my heart was beating out of my chest, I started to wonder what the hell I was thinking walking up Mt Majura. Who on earth called that a mountain?

We walked into our first camp at Uberi and crossed a small river to set up tents, and get washed up before dark. Just as we were almost set up we had a huge downpour of rain that lasted an hour or so, another trekking group unfortunately were still walking in this.

The rain was heavy enough that the river soon became uncross able and the porters quickly went out to our tents and dug trenches around them so we could sleep in our tents. Some of the men’s tents were leaking already so they were put in one of the huts. Bill reminds me about how hard the first day is for everyone, this gives me hope!

Day 2 – Uberi to Ioribaiwa

I slept well and we woke about 4.45 and headlamps on its time to pack up and get ready to move out after breakfast. Our Porters setup and pack our tents and thank goodness because he does a much better job than I could. At this point I now realise being a girls is not so good in the jungle and going to the toilet is nothing short of a strategic challenge. It’s about 6am and we are all ready to go. John our trek Leader gives us a big gee up and we all feel pumped and ready to go. We head out and its up, up and more up to Imita Ridge and we stop at a lovely creek for lunch and a swim. After lunch My porter and I were told to head off first, I knew I was a little slower on the hills and I had two porters with me so I felt safe. With the many river crossings it was boots off and wet shoes on, so a lot of stopping and starting which was good.

We got to Ioribaiwa and set up tents and got cleaned up, I was able to have a bit of a shower and that always made me feel a bit better, my spirits were good but I was really fatigued, I sat for a while and wrote in my journal and watched the porters and the boys I was trekking with play footy (how on earth they had the energy) and after dinner I went to my tent to prepare for the morning. Our porters get our water for the next day so we are getting the good water and you need to make sure its purified, I was carrying about 4 litres on me a day. I then made a very big mistake and took salt tablets not realising they need to go in my water (yep a dumb moment) within minutes I am projectile vomiting. Note to self……Salt tablets go into the water bottles.

Today we cross the same river 14 times, it’s hard to imagine but there is so much water and beauty around us and that makes it so worth all the blood sweat and tears.

Day 3 – Ioribaiwa to Nauro

Waking up early seems to be so easy as you are excited about the day and the stories we hear from Bill about the Australian Soldiers is amazing. Each evening we go over the map and the stories about what took place where we stay and surrounding areas. I do miss hearing some of the stories in the evening as I go to be after dinner completely exhausted

Today is going to be our biggest day as we will trek for 10.5 hours before we make it into camp. It’s really hard to enjoy the view as you can’t take your eyes off where you are walking or you will fall. There is not a lot of opportunity to take photos because I am using both poles all the time so you try to capture each moment in your mind as best you can. As you walk you think about the Soldiers and wonder how they did it, they had guns and packs and very little food. They were sick and you can only imagine how exhausted they were fighting the Japanese day after day night after night.

The last stretch of today was through swamp and it was tough as you walk with so much mud on your boots your feet are so heavy. We walk for what seems like hours and when we finally get to Nauro it starts to rain. I went down to the creek which was breathtaking and sat in the water and couldn’t move, I ached so much it was incredible, yet I was still in good spirits and looked forward to the next day.

Day 4 - Nauro to Brigade Hill

Francis and I trek out early before the others so I can stay in front as we are told we have a big hill in front of us. As we started out it is still a little dark and because of the humidity I am unable to wear my glasses so it makes things that little bit more of a challenge. We are walking on mostly flat ground in what feels and looks like a rain forest. 30 minutes or so we start to climb and climb and climb and it’s not long before the rest of the group catch up. Half way up (seemed liked hours) I am a broken woman, I hurt I am emotion and crying, It was so hard. Mentally I am struggling and physically I am literally one step at a time and my muscles are burning. I felt a little panicked as my water bladder seemed to be blocked and I had run out of water in my bottles, I really had to re focus and Bill calmed me and said he would fix it at the top, “we are almost there” do you have any idea how sweet those words sounded.

When we reached the top of The Wall it was truly an amazing view but I was shattered and hurting (as you can see by the photo). It was a relief to hear Phil say that he was struggling just as much. I remember Phil telling me at one point “It’s about the journey not the destination” that was a great reminder to enjoy the journey and embrace the challenges one step at a time.

Walking through the Village of Menari was very peaceful as it was Saturday which is the day they go to church. As we walked into the village its beauty was stunning, and we came across the children singing. Yes again I cried with such joy and also felt like I was in another world. They grew vegetables and there were flowers everywhere, it was so tidy and calm. They had an airstrip and also a school that we were able to go into as we walked to sit and have morning tea. Because it was raining we were not able to get any water as the water is dirty and not good for drinking.

Later on in the day we walked up many more mountains (I am sure they call them hills) and we passed many trekkers coming the other way. I recall seeing one of the porters walking in front of an elderly man in his 70’s and the porter was walking with a large pack playing the guitar and singing to the trekkers. I remember my spirits lifting as they all said “well done, not far to go” even feeling as sore as I did I was still smiling and feeling so privileged to be here. As we were walking once again Sia our Trek Master had been nearby I feel he was just keeping an eye on me and he looked at me and in his soft but direct voice he told me to give him my day pack, this time I did, I was running out of steam and I then also ran out of water. I was stressed and tired and to run out of water was another challenge. Sai had some reserved of water from one of the other trekkers and he gave me some, this then allowed me to keep going. I was never giving up, not for one moment.

We walked into Brigade Hill and it was such a relief to be able to stop and take your boots and pack off. I also just wanted a shower (pvc pipe with water running out, it was beautiful) and because it was about 1415m high the water was like ice especially when your core was so hot.

After we freshened up and got our tents set up we had a ceremony at the top where we could show our respects to the lost soldiers on Brigade Hill. This was very emotional and we also had the porters sing the National Anthem and we sang ours to them, some poems were read by Tim and also names of the men whose lives were lost were read by Sam and Declan.

We ended the evening with an hearty dinner and then sat around the camp fire reflecting on the time and for me it was about being proud of what we had achieved so far. I’m not really sure how everyone was feeling but we all seemed to be in great spirits and enjoying the time together.

I will post days 5-8 shortly so keep an eye out the best is yet to come. Thank you to those that want to read about the journey.

Donna Moulds

Goal Setting for Success

2012-03-20T22:38:00.001-07:00

Have you achieved every goal ever set?

Have you ever wondered why you achieve some goals and don’t achieve other goals?

You may think you don’t set goals but in one way or another we all set goals, they can be a small goals of getting somewhere on time if you are often late. It could be to get a pay rise or promotion. We set bigger goals for fitness, and exercise or to give up smoking or drinking for a Month, year or for good.

I have been setting goals since I was very young; however I am not sure that I knew I was setting goals. I would decide I wanted something or to go somewhere and then I would find a way to do it. As I have looked back over many years of doing this and also being a keen observer of others, I have noticed a few key facts that are fairly consistent.

So why do we achieve some and not others?

Let me see if I can shed some light on what I think are some of the reasons for success and failure to reach our goals.

If you fail to plan you plan to fail “Jim Rohn”

TRY and moving away from goals opposed to moving toward goals!

TRY – This word drives me crazy and is used so frequently when it is an excuse word. What I mean by that is, it lets you off the hook….. I will try to get there…..I will try to lose weight…….I will try to stop smoking…….I tried to call. Lets look at each one of these and break it down.

Someone asks you out and you say “I will try to get there” what they may have wanted to say is “I don’t want to go but if I say I will try and get there and don’t make it I know I tried

I will try and lose weight, really! How do you try, you either do lose weight by doing something differently, like walking round the block each day and eating smaller portions, or you don’t!

The last one is I tried to call…… What about, “I called and you didn’t answer” or “ I Did call and left a voicemail message”

You see I use this activity in my training…..I ask someone to try and pick up a chair, they pick it up and I say no I asked you to try, so they pretend its heavy and can’t lift it, again I say no now you didn’t pick up the chair. I often get looked at with frustration until it clicks…..You either pick up the chair or you don’t….NO TRYING! “Anthony Robbins”

Moving Away from Goals V Moving Toward Goals

If you don’t achieve your goals someone else will “Jim Rohn”

What do I mean by moving away from goals?

When you are moving away from something it is generally because you have a negative outcome where you are, so you want to move away from it. Take a heart attack for example, you may need to lose weight change your diet and exercise, which you were not doing before, hence why you have had a heart attack.

Set toward Goals with positive outcomes, let me give you an example;

I set a goal last year to walk the Kokoda track and I was specific about a number of reasons for setting this goal. I understand this is a big one however the same concept applies t small goals as well.

Smart format applied

Specific – To walk the Kokoda Track in 2012

Measurable – Researched the most reputable company to do the trek with, costed flights, trek gear and time frames that fitted in with my daughter being away on school holidays.

Achievable – A plan was required with a deadline and results focused to ensure I would be successful (it was truly achievable with a plan)

Relevant - It was relevant in a number of ways both physically and emotionally and also one of my highest values is growth “I was definitely going to grow

Timely – I had a number of deadlines and it was the perfect time in my life to do this journey

Whilst a lot more in-depth planning and reasoning behind this goal, I am sure you can see the concept. Take the time to think of a small goal you want to achieve and use the SMART format to set the goal.

I look forward to hearing about your goals and if you need any help to set goals feel free to contact Mantra Training & Development and we can help you not only set the goals, we can help you set a plan to achieve your goals.

Time Management = Success

2012-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

If time runs away from you, this may me an interesting read!

Welcome to my Blog, it has been a while since posting and let me just say not because I have been on holidays or taking it easy, quite the contrary. This has been a very busy and tiring time with lots of physical activity included. This is a very personal story this time and not a personal opinion but an experience I wanted to share.

Do you feel like time is passing you by? Do you feel like you don't have enough hours in the day, days in a weeks or weeks in a month? well I know how you feel. Busy people tend to fit lot's into their days, weeks and moths. Have you ever asked yourself why that is, well I have, and recently more than ever. So i thought I would share some personal stuff with you in this blog about how much I have fitted in recently.

Ask yourself these questions and then please read on for my personal story:

Do you plan your day before it begins, plan your month before it begins?
Do you allow constant disruptions that take your focus away from the priorities?
The day before you go on holidays, reflect on how much you get done and how focused you are?
What could you do better to create more time in your day or even week?

School holidays are generally a time for me to recharge and put on a different hat. My Youngest daughter being the only child left at home generally goes to visit with her Dad and his family in Darwin. I miss her a lot but I use this time to recharge, work longer hours to catch up and also have some creative thinking time. Unfortunately this has not gone to plan these holidays, let me explain why.

In December I moved my business from one location to another, now if anyone has done an office fit-out before I am sure you can empathise with me and even more so as I am not very smart in the electrical area of an office. So doing an electrical plan was where I was at breaking point. When I say breaking point I mean my boundaries and comfort zone were certainly pushed. I can coordinate many different things and I enjoyed creating a new learning environment for Mantra Training & developments staff and students. Well…….5 weeks later and a few melt downs we are in the office and very happy with the outcome.

I am also very proud to say that my Son has been recovering in a Rehabilitation hospital since the beginning of January and has been doing exceptionally well. Driving to Sydney every week (6 hour round trip) to support him may be tiring, but again I find a way to use this to my advantage and University in the car has been very re energising for business and me personally. For the past 4 weeks I have been watching my Son recover from 8 years of addiction and self destruction. It has been an amazing process and he is working very hard to recover and get life on track. He has been supported by Nurses, Counselors and Support Workers who have helped him in his path to recovery. I am so very proud of him; this has not been an easy journey by any means.

For the past three months I have been training hard for my trip to Kokoda in April and I am getting fitter and stronger every week. As the time draws closer I start to wonder if I have done enough but with 11 weeks to go I am sure I still have time to up the anti and make sure I am fit and ready to take on the trek. I look forward to the history, meeting the people in the villages and the physical challenge. I can’t wait to experience the different cultures and see the scenery of the Kokoda Trek.

So I think when we have to step up we can achieve greatness and fit a lot into a short period of time. Now I don’t think for a minute it is sustainable long term without reflection and rejuvenation, and very achievable in the short term. I think it is soon time for a 4 day long weekend kayaking with my Daughter to slow down and recharge my batteries and brain.

Remember this...... we all have 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year, how we use those hours, days, months and years will provide varying levels of results. if you want to learn some great strategies for time management then contact Mantra Training & Development

Till next time, remember to set your Goals for 2012, Donna

Goal setting with purpose will be the next blog

It is amazing how much we can fit into a few short weeks!

2012-02-03T01:34:00.000-08:00

I am also very proud to say that my Son has been recovering in a Rehabilitation hospital since the beginning of January and has been doing exceptionally well. Driving to Sydney every week (6 hour round trip) to support him may be tiring, but again I find a way to use this to my advantage and University in the car has been very re energizing for business and me personally. For the past 4 weeks I have been watching my Son recover from 8 years of addiction and self destruction. It has been an amazing process and he is working very hard to recover and get life on track. He has been supported by Nurses, Counselors and Support Workers who have helped him in his path to recovery. I am so very proud of him; this has not been an easy journey by any means.

So I think when we have to step up we can achieve greatness and fit a lot into a short period of time. Now I don’t think for a minute it is sustainable long term but achievable in the short term. I think it is soon time for a 4 day long weekend kayaking with my Daughter to slow down and recharge my batteries and brain.

Till next time, remember to set your Goals for 2012, Donna

Goal setting with purpose will be the next blog

Communication via social networks

2011-11-09T02:16:00.000-08:00

You may read the heading and think "what would she know about this". Well I probably know as much or as little about the subject as most.

Here is what I do know. We are communicating less effectively than just 10 years ago. We are saying less and typing far to much.

Human beings have been communicating for centuries, since the dawn of time. Today we have more ways of communicating that we care to think about. The point to discussion is to get you thinking about how communication is taking place in your experience, and to ask the question "What is the most appropriate way to communicate what I need to say right now"?

You see, we need to be more conscious of this question and stop texting and start thinking first. When an email or a text has left your device, you can not take it back. Have you ever pressed send and regretted it?

Have you ever been guilty of communicating poorly and out of feeling frustrated. I know I have.... Have you sent a text when you should have called, have you left a voicemail when you needed to say it face to face? Are you playing an argument out on face book. Giving important news to your family via Twitter?

These are all questions you could ask yourself, and then think consciously the next time you are about to communicate a message to someone.

I think Texting is great, here are some things that are really suited for text

"We are out of Milk, Mum can you grab some"
"On my way just running late be 5 min"
"I'm in a meeting but wanted to let you know i am thinking of you"

Here are some things we should not text and need to say face to face and discuss, yet these things are being text or put on Face book. Cyber Bullying is out of control and we have many dedicated sites to support our teens and even some adults are being bullied.

Some of the conversation that should not be had via text;

"I don't love you anymore"

"Where would you like to go this weekend"

What you said last night really upset me and i think we need to resolve this now over text"

face book is another format that we are not thinking about. Employers are now looking at face book as a way to get insight into the people they may employ and i can tell you from experience, Many people have missed out on traineeships due to their face book posts and photo's.

I see everyday the great benefits to the social media for business and connecting with loved one's who are far away. However on the flip side the lack of thought about Facebook being around long after the disagreement has happened or the poor decision of a photo being posted that you never want to be reminded of, lurks around the corner for the rest of our life. Even when your profile is gone the information is in many hands or devices i should say.

So on reflection take the time to think about how you could communicate better and if the conversation needs to be Face to face where emotions are seen and understood and you can connect the way we were born to connect. Their is nothing like a hug to say your sorry to a loved one or a genuine handshake to mend broken relationships in business and friendship.

I would love to read your feedback and some examples of communication that could have been done differently providing a very different outcome.

Donna Moulds

2011-08-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog……. I feel this subject is a very important subject, as the more resources we have the greater the opportunities we can create. However on the flip side of this I know someone that currently has all the resources, support and access to information at their fingertips, yet is declining into a state of destruction. This kind of behavior often leads me to a state of frustration (even though I know better).

· I am sure you know someone that has all the resources at their fingertips yet is unable to get better results for themselves, they have addiction or are self destructive (we read about this daily)

· I am sure we all know or have read about someone who has had enormous trauma and challenges to deal with and yet they not only survive but flourish and contribute to other peoples causes or their own successful future in a positive way.

When times get tough we generally do one of two things,

1. Dig deep and find a solution

2. Brainstorm with other people to find strategies that can help, or solve the problems

3. Throw our hands in the air and give up.

At times throwing our hands in the air or giving up leads to things such as breakdown, bankruptcy or even suicide when things are overwhelming.

I often wonder about why some personalities can deal with adversity and others can not. I think this also relates to why some people can run their own business and others can not. This can relate to the responsibility or the ability to deal with pressure and people.

A number of years ago I recall being at a point of total agony, nothing was working I was a breaking point, I was also very fortunate to have a great support system around me, however at the end of the day all the resources in the world would not help me unless I took massive action in the form of baby steps.

Step 1 – Identify I need to change

Step 2 – Realisiation of what I can and can not change

The Serenity Prayer was a resource for me to tap into, even if you are not religious the message is still powerful.

Step 3 – Learn some strategies to help reduce the pressure I was feeling or lack of knowledge

Step 4 – Use the strategies consistently

Step 5 – Never give up

The reason I say MASSIVE action in BABY STEPS, is you need to make changes that are sustainable, and sometimes one step at a time so we can reinforce new habits and see progress.

I have experienced many people saying something doesn’t work and when you ask them if they tried this new strategy, they may say, “That wont work for me” I did it once and it didn’t work” you don’t know what its like for me”

I am a strong advocate of listening to TED Talks as one of my resources for learning and one I have listened to regularly and will do in the future is Anthony Robbins on “Why we do what we do, and how can we do it better”

You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink!

I have heard this saying all my life, well as far back as I can remember. It is so very true though, when you think about the advice you may have given people over the years or even the advice you have been given. Until you are ready to make a change nothing will change.

Why don’t we change?

In my experience it is because we get validated being a victim or we have secondary gain, and at times we don’t know what to do differently.

Why do we change?

In my experience it is when we are in enough pain, we change because we want a different result.

“If you keep doing what you have always done you will keep getting what you have always got”!

Till next time, live well and be good to yourself.

Donna

Opportunity

2011-07-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

When opportunity knocks make sure you open the door.

Recently I have been listening to Donald Trump’s program “Think Big and Kick Ass” and he often talks about opportunity and making sure you take every opportunity you can so long as it is for the right reasons. I would add my personal opinion of, “is it for the greater good”? The greater good for me comes from my values. When opportunity knocks for me it has to be for the greater good. This could relate to a number of things such as my Family or my Team or my Business. Sometimes we are presented an opportunity that will also push us into a place we didn’t think we could go. Think Big and kick Ass, has made me realise how small I was playing in Business and since realising this, I have been thinking bigger and greater opportunities have presented themselves.

We have all heard the statement that “everything happens for a reason”, well this can be a subject for great debate, as I have heard many times in the past from various opinions. As this is a blog and my personal opinion, I have to say though, from experience everything does happen for a reason and at times we don’t know till much later on or with great reflection why! I also strongly believe that adversity brings great opportunity, such as self development and personal growth. We may feel uncomfortable or stretched physically and/or emotionally, however their will be a reason behind what is happening.

Do I have lessons to learn?

Do I want different results, therefore need to change what I am doing?

Have circumstances changed, where I need to adjust?

Opportunity will look different to an Optimistic V pessimistic person

Is your glass half full or half empty?

In the program The Shift, Dr Wayne Dyer spoke of people at a radio station loosing their job and how devastated they were and he made a statement about it being time to move on, and if you weren’t ready you would be forced by change. What I have seen in the past is optimistic people will accept decisions and find a solution sooner than a pessimistic person, who may take longer to find a solution and they also make statements about how this will impact them negatively or other statements that may place them in a victim mentality. Now let me also say, I agree loosing your job can be very devastating especially with bills to pay and a family to feed….

Tips…..When a situation occurs that may push our comfort levels slightly or significantly, try to ask a number of questions before you take action.

What specifically has occurred here?

Can I change the situation?

What resources do I have that I can tap into?

Who could I call on for advice or support?

Then break the situation down into the facts and take appropriate action. This strategy can also provide you with the Opportunity mindset.

Till next time Bloggers

Donna Moulds

Learning, Why is it important?

2011-06-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

When I talk about learning I am not specifically focused on formal education, but learning life lessons as well as basic life skills. We learn many things over time but if you think about how, it is very diverse

Mentors

Parents

Teachers

Brothers and Sisters

Friends and colleagues

However the reality is sometimes we don’t have these examples or if we do they may not be the most positive of role models. We also may need more that what we are being taught at home or in school or out in the playground.

What kind of learner am I?

Do I learn by listening?

Do I learn by doing?

Do I learn by repetition and guidance?

What should I learn? Knowing what you need to learn can be a challenge as we don’t know what we don’t know. Thinking about your future and knowing we can achieve great things inspires us to learn, I think that is a big part of personal growth.

If we find our passion, we tend to become hungry for knowledge and it seem to be easier to learn new things, albeit scary at times but also exciting to know we love what we are learning and the direction this is taking our life, career and family.

Learning may cost money but far less than not learning and making the same mistakes over and over again. There is a great saying “If you keep doing what you have always done you will keep getting what you always got” Is a great Philosophy to live by and be a constant reminder that when things are not working we need to change what we are doing.

What if we don’t know how to do things differently?….I asked this question at the CEO sleep-out. Sometimes we don’t know there is a different way to do something as we have no one to guide us or show us an alternative.

When lights go off, or you have that Ah ha moment great things are possible, so keep learning. Have a look at this brief clip from the CEO sleep-out where we are helping homeless men learn how to do things differently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj1ZnfxCaqc

I want to leave you with a thought

There are no winners or losers in education just learners!

Donna Moulds

Manage stress in any situation!

2011-03-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

What strategies work for you?

There is a lot of information out in the community, on the web and also in the workplace on stress and how to manage it.

However the first step to managing stress is, knowing what stress is for you?

What can be very resourceful is to identify when you are stressed, how you are feeling and you could also rate this for example on a scale of 1 to 10. Notice how your breathing is and if it is shallow, then you could take a few deep breaths and then see how you are feeling. Just breathing differently can make a difference.

I personally think one of the biggest mistakes we make is assuming how someone should be feeling or react to any given situation based on how we would be feeling or react. Take for example 2 people going through Divorce, how one person reacts may be very different to the other person. The stages of emotions that may be experienced will vary from person to person, or the time in which it takes for life to feel relatively normal again, if at all.

In the workplace how two people respond to work demands, deadlines and managing people will vary. Is it getting to work on time, or is it your work load, or it could be work colleagues that increase your stress levels. What we need to realise is that it is not something or someone that causes us stress it is how we perceive a situation or react to what is happening around us that creates the feeling inside.`

When a crisis happens in the world such as the Floods in Queensland, the earthquake in Christchurch or the Tsunami in Japan, this is a situation that can effect people differently, if you have family there or feel very emotional about the tragedy and lives lost you may feel stressed by this situation, however if for example you don’t have any family there and have no emotional attachment to the situation then you may not have any reaction just a feeling of empathy or sadness. Please remember people feelings and reactions are their own and not right or wrong just their feelings.

Do you really know which strategies works for you? Have you ever been told how to manage stress, use the techniques and still no results?

This may be due to the fact that you have not discovered what works for you!

Is it

Exercise
Healthy eating
No alcohol
Mediation
Deep breathing techniques

These are some of the tips that can be used in isolation or even combine a number of them or all of them. So what do you do when you have tried them all and nothing seems to work?

Well just like isolating what foods/preservatives don’t agree with you, you have to try some different techniques and measure what is getting a result, even a small result should be measured and when you get good results you need to keep doing that but also try other techniques to increase the outcome. Never give up.

Step 1. Identify how you are feeling (Angry, Sad, hurt, scared, uncertain)

Step 2. Ask yourself, what specifically about this situation is making me feel this way?

Step 3. Can I change the situation? Become resourceful….

Step 4. Can I change the way I perceive the situation/ is it as bad as it seems

Step 5. What strategies work that I can use right now

Step 6. Take action

Remember not to fool yourself by saying nothing works. I can’t tell you how many times I hear someone say nothing works and when you ask the question they may have tried one technique once and given up.

If you want to know more about managing stress feel free to contact us for some more information or book a session on Managing Stress with resourceful outcomes.

Till next time

Donna Moulds

The Power of Shared knowledge!

2011-03-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

So what have you learned and shared with others? please comment and share with us.

About 7 years ago I started on a personal growth journey.

When I look back, I think I was always on a journey of growth, however I wasn’t aware and 7 years ago I became very conscious of my journey and it was at this point it was more directed and purposeful.

I had this hunger and desire to learn more and then as I learned more I wanted to learn faster. The more I learned the more I wanted to learn. I was like a kid in a candy shop, I was excited and passionate, It was like I lifted the lid on something but didn’t know what it was.

My mentor at the time Dale was such a patient teacher, hard on me, but patient and only too willing to share all she had learned. This was a clear demonstration on how the power of sharing knowledge can change peoples lives. It changed mine!

Early on in the journey I wanted to tell every one everything, as I learn't it. I didn’t share what I didn’t understand as I was afraid of looking stupid. When I got it, and the lights went on, I wanted to tell the world. Even those that didn’t want to hear.

I learned about Jim Rohn and Anthony Robbins and then I started to understand Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and attended a Christopher Howard Seminar and I continued University in the car (also known as learning on the go) and found more great speakers, I borrowed books and tapes and then when I could I invested in programs, then I started meeting more like minded people who shared a similar journey to me. It was amazing to me how all this stuff was in the world and I had never experienced this before the age of 33.

Then I met another mentor Caron, who has taught me so much in such a short period of time. Not only did Caron teach me how to learn more about myself and my journey, she also showed me the art of patients, gratitude, and more importantly tapping into my inner resources. One of the many lessons that were reinforced is the Power of Sharing Knowledge.

Sharing knowledge is one of the most priceless gifts you could ever give. Someone’s life can change with just that one gift alone. I also believe that giving starts the receiving process.

I have recently experienced this with two of my students, where I shared a bit of knowledge and it has had an incredible impact on this life and how they look at future possibilities. This truly inspires me to continue on my journey and to keep sharing knowledge.

Till next time, keep sharing. Donna

The Power of Reading!

2011-02-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

What books are you reading?

As an avid book reader myself I am always on the lookout for new books that I am inspired by. I have read many and have built up a fairly good library over the years.

I also love to loan out the books to others who may not want to build up a library but want to read a good book.

A good friend of mine asked “Who I will leave it to when I die?” To be honest I had not thought about that till then, but it is actually a substantial collection. Including a very old edition of the, “Laws of Success” by Napoleon Hill and a signed copy of Jim Rohn “Seasons of Life”. Books that I am very proud to have in my collection.

Note to self, add library to the will.

Anyway, I have always love to hear the stories about what someone is reading and why (if they do) they love it so much or what did it bring o their life. One of my previous Trainees read 7 habits of highly effective teenagers. The feedback from her

was amazing and I know that the book impacted changes in her life in very positive way.

I would love to know the answer to some question from all you

Canberra Small Business blog supporters.

What are you reading?

Or what have read recently?

What has it brought to your life?

What has it taught you or inspired you to do?

I have read many books but some of the most powerful books have been the Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz, The Success Principles, Jack Canfield, Excuses Begone, Dr Wayne Dyer.

The success Principles has a great free coaching program that has some tools to get you started for FREE. https://www.canfieldcoaching.com/

Books have inspired me to learn from my many business and personal mistakes and given me insight to find alternative solutions. They have given me drive and inspiration to keep going and also to motivate others. I will forever read and obtain ideas on how I can continue my growth.

I once heard a saying that has stuck with me for years now, “If you keep doing what you have always done you will keep getting what you have always got” Anon

Please leave your comments answering the questions;

What are you reading?

Or what have read recently?

What has it brought to your life?

What has it taught you or inspired you to do?

Donna Moulds

DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!

2010-10-20T19:01:00.001-07:00

DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!

If you have a teenager who is yet to decide what they want to try before they grow up, here is an inspirational story they may want to read.

Chris Warren came to Mantra Training & Development in September 2009 for work experience, which is something that Mantra Training & Development have been part of with various schools and industry bodies for about 3 years now. Taking young adults from a school environment and putting them in a real work environment, that is not only supportive it is also empowering and teaches self motivation. This has also been a wonderful opportunity for the team at Mantra Training & Development.

We have a number of businesses that provide support and mentoring for our team including those involved our work experience program.

One of the Mentors that Chris has had an opportunity to work with and learn from has been john Phillips. He has played a very supportive role with both of Chris’s qualifications.

As the CEO and also a Trainer/Assessor, Chris instantly caught my eye with his “go get it” type attitude to technology and websites. At the time I thought I had a good website and was pretty proud of the fact that I could update it. Now……. don’t get me wrong we had to rein him in on a number of occasions as he wants to do things today without looking at the security or other access and usability implications. In fact I remember him launching our new website way to early and he didn’t take a back up. But we had a plan B and more importantly Chris was able to learn the importance of planning and being patient.

Once we launched the new website early in 2010 I realised how primitive my old site was. Not even 12 months later Chris has created yet a better website allowing for growth and advances in technology and has learned a greater degree of skills in many areas allowing for a much better product. He has also learned how to work better with people not just technology and has grown into a wonderful young man with some great skills that have now seen him accepted into a Bachelor of Software Engineering.

Chris has completed a Certificate III in Information Technology and will have completed his Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web design) by December 2010 and this will then take him into the University by February 2011.

In August this year Chris was also invited to the Google office in Sydney where he was able to contribute some of his skills and learn what it would be like to work with such an elite group of IT experts. He was blown away by the experience and I also think it ignited his motivation and drive to really go for what he wanted in a career path as well as was he is truly passionate about.

Here is what Chris had to say:

From College to University

At the end of college I always knew what I wanted to do, but I didn't know how I would go about doing it this involved having a Gap Year and then going to University to complete my Bachelors of Software Engineering then I discovered Mantra Training & Development, after initially completing work experience I was offered a

job by the CEO Donna, to Continue working on the Mantra Training & Development website and be part of the team.

An entire year later, the experiences I have had, the people I've met, the skills I've gained, and the qualifications I have achieved are amazing to say the least. To put this into perspective I never anticipated what I have achieved in such a short time. It truly has been a incredible year and a great start to both my personal and professional life. I now look forward to an exciting future as I know anything is possible.

And now through gaining my Qualifications under an Australian Apprenticeship with Mantra Training & Development as my RTO and Employer I had the pathway and the

support to enter University with my new Journey will begin in February 2011.

I will continue working with Mantra Training & Development and assist them in growing their organisation into one of the best RTO’s in the ACT, and help Mantra generate more pathways and opportunities for it's students, staff, and trainees.

I would like to give special thanks to two people, Donna & John. You have parted with some tremendous skills that I will use for through out University and the rest of my life. Thank you....

Industry Standards and keeping up

2010-08-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Industry Standards and keeping up with change!!

In the training market, training packages are continuously being changed, updated and endorsed. This is related to many factors including continues improvement and also what the industry is saying about the needs of the marketplace and delivery of quality programs. One of the recent changes is the Training & Assessment field is the new cert IV.

New …….Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110)

The new Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110) replaces the superseded Certificate IV qualification (TAA40104) and will become the new ‘entry level qualification required for trainers and assessors of training package qualification as determined by the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF2010).

Program participants will develop skills and knowledge in exceptional training practices, assessment and developing and delivering effective and engaging training programs every time.

Participants achieving this qualification will develop skills and knowledge in:

§ The role of training in organisations and the Skills Framework that supports and governs

§ The principles of competency based training and assessment

§ The training cycle including identifying training needs and promoting training

§ Identifying a range of training delivery methods & resources

§ Creative and innovative learning strategies and resources

§ Planning, designing and delivering effective training sessions incorporating

§ Communication skills

§ Empower, engage and motivate learners

§ Adult learning principles

§ The learning environment and how to enhance opportunities for learner’s engagement

§ Evaluating the effectiveness of training and making recommendations and implementing continuous improvement practices

§ Planning, conducting and reviewing workplace assessments in accordance with the principles of assessment

As times goes on we will experience subtle changes that this qualification will bring and also see evidence of the training industry level of trainers and programs increase to a better standard. In our organisation we have experienced three of our training packages change and also the AQTF2010 being endorsed. This has a impact on our organisation in respect to costs time and professional development.

Here is how to manage some of the changes.

# Regular team communication

# Prioritising changes

# Managing the requirements and allocating teams and timelines

# Continuous improvement strategies and documenting progress

Till next time keep productive

Staying Motivated in uncertain times PART 2

2010-06-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

Wow doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun. I thought I would stay on the same track as my last blog. Not because I don’t have other things to talk about, as I get paid to talk. I wanted to stay on the same subject because I know the important growth. They say if we are not growing we are dying……….Well I’m for living.

My focus on this blog is the people you surround yourself with. When we go into business we have the people in our life that support us every step of the way and those who don’t. I call the ones who don’t DREAM STEALERS. They are the ones who say you can’t do it or you’re not good enough. The problem is that sometimes these people are family and you are stuck with them. So you have to then make a choice of how much time you choose to spend with them. Sometimes we need to spring clean friend as they are uncomfortable with our dreams and we feel we can not pursue our dreams with them around. Our circle of influence is exactly that an influence and it need to be a positive one.

The people you do want to be around and even have as mentors are the people who are more successful than you, the people that will challenge you to do better and be better at what ever it is you want to achieve. If we are not surrounding ourselves with like minded people how do we expect to grow? I know it is not easy to get to all those seminars and workshops, sometimes due to lack of time and sometimes its cost. This is why University in the car is so beneficial. Even if you don’t have to travel far you can still benefit from listening to the successful people on your trip to work, or your next appointment. Here is where I listen to some of my mentors:

o In the car

o In the bathroom

o Waiting for my appointment at some-one else’s office

o At the airport

o In the bedroom when getting ready

o Cooking dinner when the kids aren’t around

Think about all the opportunities you have during the day when your hands may be busy but your head is free. When you feel flat or even a bit defeated that’s when you need to listen to good stuff or meet up with a mentor. If you don’t have any Audio to listen to, find someone who does and ask if you can borrow it.

I have many mentors for various reasons. Some are Business mentors and some are spiritual mentors and others and personal mentors. If you have someone in your circle of influence that you continuously learn from, ask them to be your mentor. You could catch up for a coffee or even lunch once a month. This is your opportunity to put your cards on the table and be accountable for your vision and action plan.

I also want to take this opportunity to tell you about a book I recently read called The Four Agreements (Author RUIZ). It is brilliant and I recommend this to everyone.

Next blog we can chat about goal setting.

Business Owners – Why are we here?

2010-06-15T15:49:00.001-07:00

The Autonomy of making decisions in my own business is one of the reasons for being here. What does it mean to be Autonomous? Well the Oxford Dictionary says……….

“Self government, Personal freedom”

I fit well with personal freedom. As a mother of 4, I love to have the flexibility to be able to take the day off to look after a sick child or go to the school assembly where my daughter may be performing or even take off to the coast early afternoon on a Friday. (This one needs to happen more often)

I make decisions with certain questions in the forefront of my thinking.

Is this the best decision for the organisation?

Does this fit in with my values?

Am I passionate about this?

If I make this decision how will this affect the team?

As a business owner we are also in business not just for the passion, also to make money and keep our business flourishing, then to grow the business.

Recently I have made a number of decisions that at times conflict with a number of the question I ask myself. However when the decision was made and final the feeling of exhilaration certainly overshadowed the minor disadvantages.

So ask yourself why am I in Business? This may bring you back to the core reasons for being in business and relight the spark that you may have started with a year ago or even 10 years ago.

Staying Motivated in uncertain times

2010-06-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

Being in business is filled with many uncertainties so why is this any different?

The life of the Business owner is a very exciting one, it has it moments of hardships but above all it has more moments of achievement, prosperity and triumph.

We get to make the rules, we get to create the opportunities and we also have to take on the task of keeping motivated. One of the greatest opportunities I have been blessed with is meeting other like minded people. I have a mission to stay away from Dream Stealers, you know those they tell you it’s not possible or it won’t work or you’re not smart enough. I am here to tell you if you have a big enough WHY the how will come.

So here are some tips I use to stay motivated.

o I find all the free seminars and go to them first.…there are many of them happening all the time.

o I set clear goals with time frames attached to keep you accountable

o I share my vision and desire for the ultimate success of my Business and my personal life (what ever success means to you) Its amazing what happens when you say them out loud. Some one might hear you.

o Develop new and exciting ideas and challenges to take my Business to the next level.

o Network…someone once said go to the opening of an envelope

o Making customer service a priority

o Support staff and establish their goals

o University in the car. I take every opportunity to learn so I do it on the road as well

As a Woman/Mother and Business owner I am very proud to say that I look forward to what the year and the economic climate has to offer and I will be looking for ways to ensure my company continues it’s growth and staff development.

I am always inspired to become better and learn from my mistakes and let me tell you I made my fair share of them. However I also like making mistakes because it gives me an opportunity to learn and grow.

A dear friend once asked me. “Why put energy into something g that may never happen” to keep this in perspective I will explain. How often do we worry about something that may never happen? Putting energy into the unknown rather than the known is not a worthwhile thing to do. If I am going to worry about something because I fear it may happen well I may as well give up now because it is going to happen.

Focus on what works and deal with the unknown when its know.

Blog post from CEO

2010-02-23T18:18:00.001-08:00

Training and Government funding

Before you enrol in a course ask yourself the following questions

Why do I want to enrol in this course
How committed am I to complete this course
Can I apply for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
Is their any funding available to assist me with paying for the course

Am I eligible to access this funding
Are their any additional fees for me to pay

Do the class times fit in with my schedule

If not can I change to fit this in to my schedule
Is their an opportunity for flexibility in the course schedule

Here is a reminder of the importance of continued growth in our lives. Anthony Robbins once said “If you are not growing you are dying”. I personally think this is true; however we can grow in many different forms, in life, in love and professionally among many other ways.

Training and Government funding can go hand in hand. There are some great incentives to be able to attend a training course you may have been putting off for a long time.

Don’t have the time
Don’t have the money
It’s not flexible enough

These would be some of the most used excuses as to why we don’t continue to learn through formal education. Well these days I am not sure we can use this as an excuse. Here in the ACT and all other states in Australia we have great support for training such as Productivity Places Program and also User Choice funding. These opportunities allow us to find a learning establishment and enrol in courses that suit our lifestyle as well as our work commitments. With online learning and distance based learning for example, this opens itself to opportunities for self paced development. Now this may not suit everyone and you need to identify your own motivations and support mechanisms that you will require if you choose these learning opportunities.

More importantly ensure you speak to the trainer about what works for you. How you learn best and what support you may need.

Keep learning and remember knowledge and skills serve you forever.

Reflection and Re-Evaluation

2010-01-03T14:30:00.001-08:00

Reflection and Re-Evaluation

Here we are at the end of another year, moving rapidly toward 2010……..4 sleeps till we turn over to 2010

Now is a great time to reflect on the year that has been and move toward setting some goals for the New Year. You may have had a year that has been fantastic or it could have been a year of challenge, either way now you can plan for better bigger or just more of what you had.

What are your plans for the next year, where will you go? What will you do? How many goals will you set for yourself ?

On the 5^th December 2009 my greatest Mentor sadly passed away (click here for the video tribute to Jim Rohn). He was and still is one of the most inspiring teachers, philosophers I have ever known. Some of the lessons he has taught me over the years are so simple yet we forget to use them.

* Don’t start the day till you have finished it. Don’t start the month till you have finished it and Don’t start the year before you have finished it. Now as Jim says the year is a little harder…. none the less still necessary.

* Don’t wish life was easier wish you were smarter

* Work harder on yourself than anything else

* If you change everything around you will change

Jim’s inspiring words will live with me forever as will the impact he has had on my life both personally and professionally. Thank you Mr Rohn

I personally like to use this time between Christmas and New Year to reflect on the past year and see where I have come. What I have learned and what needs to change for the future. I can set a plan in place and involve my children in the plan and also inspire them to make plans for their future. Take the time to plan with your family and loved one’s to make 2010 a year of inspiration, growth, and a time of fulfilling dreams.

Reflecting on my values and goals for the future I realised I had been out of alignment for some time and now I am more focussed on becoming re aligned with my true values. The balance and peace alignment gives you allows other things to flow into your experience.

7 Steps to planning your year and have smart goals or smarter:

Specific /Decide – what do you want to achieve
Measurable/Commit - Write them down, how will I know when you have reached it
Action - Set practical steps in place to achieve it
Realistic – by observing all the steps and having a plan knowing I can do it
Timely – Set a date for each goal that is realistic and achievable

Evaluate– progress and see where things may not be on track and establish how to get them on track.
Reward then RE do – When you have reached the goal make sure you celebrate and then re do your goals so that you continue the challenge

Have a Safe and prosperous New Year and I look forward to writing to you all in 2010

Merry Christmas

2009-12-03T20:20:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas to all you bloggers and have a safe and prosperous new year. We look forward to hearing from you in 2010

I was so excited to have received a message from Anthony Robbins a few days ago I knew I had to shear this. Whilst some may think he is over the top and some may love him this message comes from what he learned from my most admired and respected mentor, Mr Jim Rohn.

One of the messages was “Stand guard at the door of your mind”. This has been so true for me over the years and this is why I don’t watch the news or read the papers as they don’t feed the mind very good stuff. I also know we need a balance and I personally get this from reading a wide variety of books and insightful magazine publications. Success magazine, B2B, management Today to name a few.

He also says to feed the mind

He talks about your greatest enemy adding a teaspoon of sugar to your tea and this makes it sweeter but if your best friend adds a drop of poison to your tea and you drink it you die….so stand guard………

FEED the MIND…….good stuff, positive as well as negative, we need the balance, we need to hear about the challenges that some face and how they overcome adversity and move forward, not the continuous negative news on the TV and Newspapers. Ask yourself what do you feed the mind and maybe you could be more conscious of this. I have added the link below for you to listen to a few minutes of how Tony overcame adversity of being homeless or being diagnosed with a brain Tumour and more…..

http://www.tonyrobbinslive.com.au/anthonyRobbins/

Take the time to do some reading over the break, some of the books I am currently reading are just fascinating, Blink how to think without thinking, Malcolm Gladwell, Excuses Begone, Dr Wayne Dyer, The Gratitude Effect, Dr Demartini. These are all fantastic and some great lessons and inspiring thoughts in these.

I would love to hear from you and see what you are reading over the Christmas Break. I hope you get to enjoy some family time and catch up with friends…..remember we only have one life to live so we best make it a good one. The past is the past and future is what ever we want to make it…..so dream big and discover your ability to achieve.

Bye for now…..as Anthony Robbins always says LIVE WITH PASSION……

Growth – Professional Vs Personal. The Difference.

2009-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

We often see the offer of personal growth courses and professional development course and sometimes it is hard to define the difference. I was once told by a Mentor of mine that if you are not growing you are dying. I think this is so true in all aspects of our lives. Growth is important, however sometimes we don’t know where to start or even when to start.

What is Personal Development?

Wikipedia states – Intellectual growth/life, spiritual growth/life, and creative expression

What is Professional Development?

Wikipedia states – refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement

Write down what you think it is……….

To some degree I think they are very much the same, I know if we participate in professional development workshops we may learn one or more specific aspect of a role or software or skill in our current or future workplace, however if you stop and think about growth as a whole you will soon see that as we learn new skills in our Job/Business it can also provide a level of personal growth;

Increased self confidence
Higher level of independence
Increase in employability skill (better options)

If we work on personal development and attend some workshops we also gain;

Increased self confidence
Higher level of independence
More opportunity for continued growth

At Mantra Training & Development, we are not only focused on the qualification you are enrolled in, we are also incorporating personal growth to ensure a greater level of opportunity in life.
Imagine learning about time management in your business course you could ask yourself “how can I apply this in my personal life”?
Understanding emotional intelligence can not only assist with team development in the workplace but it goes a long way in respect to communicating better with the family on a personal level.

In conclusion

Look for ways to get the most from your training experience and if you have had significant growth in one area of your life then apply the principles to as many aspects of your life for greater benefit. This will will have a flow on effect to your family and your team in the workplace.

A Strategic Approach to Developing Skills

2009-10-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Are you feeling a little stale in your industry or even your interpersonal skills, communication skills? Do you want to climb the corporate ladder and become the leader in your workplace, or get the job of your dreams?

Keeping fresh and up to date with employability skills can be a challenge, however it doesn’t have to be impossible. Ensuring that your interpersonal skills are well polished allows you to become a greater asset to the marketplace which is critical in these times. Employers want to hold on to good staff and support for long term retention wherever possible.

Some of the strategies that I personally employ when it comes to growth are good old books. I know finding the time to sit and read them can also be a challenge but well worth the fight. Each time I read a new book it takes me to a new level of knowledge and understanding both personally and in a professional capacity. I read a good balance of business books and personal development, and also some from the spiritual realm. Over the past 6 years I have been building up a brilliant library that I intend to continue adding to as the years go by. I ensure I have a good balance of books and Audio in the library and at any given time I am happy to loan them to anyone who is honest enough to return once they have finished the experience.

University in the car………who ever invented the CD player in the car I am forever grateful. I don’t think you would ever get into my car without stepping on some kind of educational material on my floor (I am not messy the cases are very neatly placed on the floor so passengers can have a seat). If you spend more than 15 minutes a day in the car then this would be ideal for you to get an education whilst you are on your way to work or your next interview. How inspired would you be listening to Jim Rohn, or Denis Waitley, the interview would be sensational…..one of your best.

Having Mentors is a great way to ensure you continue to grow, mentors don’t have to be known they can be the great philosophers or just some one that you aspire to become. Like-mindedness’ is something I think is an important key to greater success, surrounding yourself with likeminded people make the transition to great even easier.

Another form of growth is the more formal approach, however at times this is a little harder to obtain especially when we already have a busy schedule. Mantra Training & Development have a very supportive environment that is focussed on the participants and their specific desired outcomes. Whilst you may be in a classroom environment it is still about a one on one approach for the individual to enhance the learning experience. Understanding your needs is vital to the success of the specific training program.

Visit our website http://www.mantratraining.com.au/ and see what we have to offer or come and talk to us about a Training Needs Analysis.

Regards,

Donna CoxCEO/Director