CHASING DREAMS…..

(LESSONS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY)

Welcome!!!!!

Dear reader,

From a young age, I’ve always had a vision of my dream job. The narrative begins when I was in 11^th grade and observed a local cloth store near my house and then there was a Zara store. They both offer clothing, but the distinction is in the volume of sales. Local stores typically serve a smaller, localized customer base. On the other hand, Zara stores have a global and consistent branding strategy, benefiting from a much larger customer base and higher sales.  At that moment, I had no idea about the reason but after a while, I learned about branding. Zara has a brand name that the local retailer does not. Zara has a dedicated customer base and brand loyalty. Customers seek out Zara products because they trust the brand’s quality, style, and reliability. Local stores may need to work harder to build this level of loyalty.

I decided to become a brand manager following that day. I find it amazing how a person comes up with different ways to promote a product and is in charge of advertising a company’s brand and coming up with new ways to attract more customers to his/her product.

However, I have discovered a gap between myself and my dream job-

Time management- Identifying a time management gap can serve as a starting point for making improvements in managing tasks, setting priorities, and achieving goals more effectively. Closing the time management gap typically involves adopting better strategies, tools, and habits to use time more efficiently and productively. The reasons behind this gap are poor planning, procrastination, distractions, or an inability to prioritize effectively. Fulfilling the time management gap is essential for me to enhance efficiency, reduce stress, and maximize my overall effectiveness.

Public Speaking- Nervousness before presenting my point always creates a hindrance while communicating. This gap often arises because public speaking involves unique challenges and skills that may not be necessary for everyday interpersonal communication. Fulfilling the public speaking gap involves gaining the necessary skills, experience, and confidence to successfully convey ideas, engage audiences, and express oneself with clarity when speaking to larger groups or in public speaking engagements.

To cover this gap, I used chatgpt, which was quite helpful. The information I obtained through chatgpt-

• Identify tasks based on their urgency and importance
• Break the larger goal into smaller ones
• Allocate time for specific tasks and activities.

BOOKS ON TIME MANAGEMENT  

1. Getting things done- David Allen

(i) Collect all tasks, ideas, and communication

(ii) Use tools like notebooks, digital apps, or voice recording to capture everything                                                                                                                      

(iii) Process each item you’ve captured and determine what it means and what needs to be done.

2. Make time- Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky                                                                                                   

(i) Start your day by choosing a single activity

(ii) Take care of your body’s basic needs

(iii) Cultivate inspiration by seeking out book articles and newspaper

I’ve established a goal for myself, recognized my learning gaps, and created a to-do list for myself that I’ll be following in the next few days.

For Time Management

1. Prioritize tasks- Going to begin my day by identifying and prioritizing the most important tasks.
2. Time blocking- I’m going to allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks or activities. So, there will be enough time for each task.
3. Eliminate distractors- Identify common distractions and take steps to minimize them. This might involve turning off notifications and creating a dedicated workspace.
4. Use technology wisely- Going to use time management applications and tools to help manage time more effectively.
5. Delegate Tasks- If possible, delegate tasks to others.
6. Planner or Digital Calendar- Use a calendar or planner to schedule appointments, meetings, and deadlines.

FOR Public Speaking

1. Practical Vocal exercises- warming up voice with vocal exercises like tongue twisters, pitch variations, and breathing exercises.
2. Daily Reading Aloud- Identifying a book, article, or other written content to read aloud.
3. Record Yourself- Use a smartphone or a recording device to record speeches or practice sessions.
4. Seek feedback- Encourage friends, family, or colleagues to provide constructive feedback on your speaking.
5. Expanding Vocabulary- Using new words and phrases to enhance your language skills.
6. Daily journaling- A short journal entry each day on a topic of my choice.
7. Visualization- Spending a few minutes every day visualizing myself speaking confidently in various scenarios, such as giving presentations or delivering a TED talk.

SOOOOO, STAY TUNED!!!!!! In the coming weeks, there are so many fascinating stories to find as we travel the vast landscape of CHASING DREAMS. In the coming blog, I’ll share my experience and learnings from following the to-do list. I’m committed to providing you with fresh and interesting stuff.

Taniksha Rawat