Last year two film-makers asked me to work with David, one of thousands of gifted Britons made redundant due to the global economic downturn. My job; to get his career back on track- here’s what happened. Top Tips below:

Throughout the UK and indeed across the world many people are losing their jobs. One of these people may be you or a loved one. In the past redundancy was rare. Now it’s common place - it may not just happen once but two to five times in your career. Whilst redundancy can be devastating it can be the birthplace of you finding a life and career that you really feel happy with. When I run my workshops over 90% say it proved to be a blessing. However it takes time. And if you or a loved one has, is or may face redundancy then a few tips will help you to use this opportunity to create a profession from your passion.

1. Give yourself time and space to be, breathe, reflect and even grieve. It is a major event and taking this time will help you move forward for more happily.

2. Find out exactly what the redundancy will mean: and your options / entitlements. Now is not a time to be shy and retiring and you need to get what you’re entitled. Once you do this list and identify your monthly budget and outgoings and set a ‘survival budget’. If you get a redundancy sum budget and use it wisely it may take months to settle into your next role.

3. Seek support and start to network: from friends and loved ones - and professionals in / beyond work who can help you. Above all share it with those you trust and love. You may also find that there are professionals in your circle who can help you move forward. Don’t suffer in silence

4. Take time: to consider what you really want to do next in your life and career and follow your heart. Redundancy is your opportunity for you to really identify what you are passionate about and to make a profession out of it.

5. Practicals: Brush up your CV and your interview skills, identify all your strengths and skills. Ensure you stand out. Include a powerful personal statement at the top. Make sure that it highlights your accomplishments and keep it to two pages maximum.

6. Get hold of my ‘Moving ahead in your career free guide’ - visit my resources page on my website www.rasaru.com . It will help you focus on what you want in a job

7. Write a list of all the people you know who can help you (inc contacts, friends, former colleagues and who they know). Call or make appointments to meet and chat with anyone who may be able to help you. Less than 50% of jobs are advertised. Increasing numbers of people find their new careers throughout networking. Explore how you can help them too, life is merely changing and exchanging energy.

8. When applying for jobs: keep spoken/ written correspondence clear, crisp, concise and captivating. Be personal, professional, passionate and prompt. Always shine and smile. These elements will help you stand out from the crowd. Being you is key.

9. Spread the net: include internet, networking, agencies, contacts as well as newspapers for your job search.

10. Tell people: You probably know 200 people or more tell them what you’re looking for…together you may find it… It’s a small world.

Finally take it in steady steps. Know when to work and when to rest. Learn from setbacks and disappointments and know that these will make you even sharper and stronger over time. You may find, like myself, that redundancy actually becomes the moment that you move from a job to the very reason that you are here – utilising all your skills and talents.

“If we were to stop this game of hide and seek - who would we be?”

It’s quite possible that life can be completely bypassed in the search for happiness, fulfilment, wisdom, wealth - and even in the search for self, love or spirituality.

What would your life be if you were to stop seeking to find completion in any place, person, post or possession? It is easy to become possessed by these things and by the thoughts of what they may bring. It is easy to get lost in what has been, might have been, should have been, yet might be… and by what you’d like to be and see.

But what if the search were to fall away? Who in fact is seeking anyway? What is the problem that needs to be solved or indeed resolved?

Where is the line between you and me? Where is the divide between what you seek and what you see? Where is the line between what you experience personally and what you understand to be happening outside and globally?

Are you who you think you are - or are you what resides below, beyond and between those thoughts. Ironically by going in search of who is looking may be more illuminating. What if you were the hider as well as the seeker?

If these questions resonate with you you may find that Seekers Corner does too. It will especially resonate if you’re keen to let the questions and need for answers to dissolve. It was founded by a good friend of mine who went in search of the answers to these questions and found nothing - and perhaps it is nothing rather than something that is where you may wish to look. It may be the one place you haven’t looked. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find what you’re looking for : )


Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success

I was just watching BBC London News and was thrilled to hear that little Harvey Parry, whose story we featured on The Rasheed Show (my pilot TV show) is on his way back from the USA… with new prosthetic legs. This is fantastic news and is down to the tireless efforts of Harvey, his family and fiends and media support including the BBC coverage. Wonderful news and well done to the Harvey Parry Appeal Fund and everyone who has supported them

As the world looks on at the UK election results and what happens next remember that the outcome is actually very clear… YOU are the Prime Minister.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success. His clients include entertainers, enterpreneurs and organisations. He helps people find fulfilment in all areas of their lives from within.He regular speaks on life, work and relationship issues in the media - inc appearances on ITV News and BBC Breakfast

I have 5 questions for you. Four of them came to me a couple of days ago and the last yesterday. I asked them of the professionals / entrepreneurs at my new event The Mind Spa yesterday at Molton House in central London. And I invite you to ask them of yourself.

The awareness, asking of and gently acting on what emerges may be enriching and enlightening:

1) One thing about you that’s already great: Too often we overlook the magic we already have. Too often we see the imperfections and overlook our strengths and thus miss our possibilities. So many people I coach struggle with this. They have been blinded by - and bought into - the lies that they have been told about themselves throughout their lives.

2)One thing thing to let go of to create space: Perhaps there are physical things that are cluttering your home/ work space and hampering your emotional space. Let them go. Perhaps there are other issues to let go of.

3) One thing to accept and embrace: Sometimes in life there is no problem and some times the is no solution. The gift of life is simply to embrace it. Spend some time with this question gently.

4) One thing to focus on on the the coming hours and days: Too often our minds are ineffective as our attention is spit into so many areas of concern and distraction. What one thing would make the most positive impact on your life - and based on that what should your attention, earnestness and action be focused on.

5) One person who can help you along the way: No-one is an island. No one or nation is completely independent without relationship to another. We are part of one whole. The more we fight that actually re-inforces that fact. What person can help you with the personal, professional or other concerns that face you. Sit with this. It may be someone you know by name or a type of person you need to seek. Who may be able to help you find this person - where might you begin.

Go about these questions with a light heart.

Last week I was running a personal development workshop for teenagers set in the tranquility of the Lake District. This week I’m speaking to at The Vitality Show, Earls Court. If you’re one of the hundreds of Londoners who are seeking and facing change in their lives and careers - then join me for three inspiring talks

The Gift of Inner Success:Thurs 18 2.30pm & Sun 21 Mar 11.30am: find peace in yourself and all else
From Head to Heart.. Finding your Path: Sat 20 4.30pm how to find fulfilment in your career

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, corporate coach and motivational speaker. He is author of The Gift of Inner Success and Co-author of a Zest for Business. Rasheed is the life / business coach partner of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre. Full details or Rasheed’s talks at The Vitality Show

About three and a half years ago I met Val Hood who was keen to leave behind her secretarial business to focus purely on her work as a medium. I’d never met a medium before, and as with everyone I work with, my job is simply to help them to find and be themselves. We worked together for a couple of months on Val’s goals and dreams and I was thrilled to catch up with her recently to hear about her success, tour or Australia and New Zealand and her forthcoming book. Here’s her story in her words.

Funny how we obsess about the junk we feed our mouths and overlook that which feeds our minds.

This time of year our physically well-being is something we tend to, quite rightly, turn our attention to. Perhaps you’ve tried or considered dieting, losing weight, stopping smoking, detoxing and new habits. This can have all sorts of benefits - one of which is that it actually helps re-balance mind and body, because we tend to overly live life in the mind.

But while you may have (often) thought about what you are feeding your body, how often have you thought about what you are feeding your mind? Perhaps you are a parent and you may be quite mindful about what your child’s mind consumes, but what about your mind? What has been the mental diet you have consumed throughout your lifetime and what has the result been?

If you suffer from stress, unhappiness, anxiety, low self esteem and self-doubt, more often than not these are dis-eases of the mind. They may well, sooner or later, have an impact on your body, but the root is your mind.

The invitation is for you first to become aware of this. As you become aware of this a shift can begin to happen.
To help this shift I invite you to do nothing… That’s right, most of the time we do something: we take action, set goals, make plans, set to work etc. But by doing nothing I am inviting you to take a break from your mind.
Switching off the TV, going for a walk in the park, meditation, exercise, being silent are all ways of helping this process. Bit by bit your over-interest in an overly-noisy mind will begin.

Through this space it is possible to arrive (back) at peace of mind. You will be surprised how appealing and even healing this is. You will be surprised how many of your ‘issues’ with you and others will fall away. You will find yourself being more quiet, content, alert, compassionate. Far less interested in speculation, strife, arguing, fighting, gossiping, comparing, worrying. Your sense of self will shift and become more light and subtle.

Rasheed is a leading motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success.

2010 is underway which means back to work for billions worldwide. And that means back to work for you too - unless you’re one of the few who cannot, need not or choose not. But as you settle back at your desk, shop, factory or workplace do not forget play.

Whether you work for yourself or someone else it’s all too easy to get caught up in the serious stuff of work / business. It’s also easy to forget that lightheartedness, humour, fun, playfulness are also important aspects of not just your personal life, but your professional one too. Used aptly the spirit of fun can boost productivity, overcome negativity, help problem-solve, boost innovation … and beat off boredom. And very importantly it can charm, disarm and enchant bosses, customers, colleagues and suppliers.

But as you settle back to work and focus on your work / business objectives, do not forget your own. So here are my 3 Tips for success, progress and happiness in 2010…but ensure you build some fun into these too.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading coach, motivational speaker and author of The Gift of Inner Success.

“If you look at things differently you will see things differently.” - Rasheed Ogunlaru

In life it’s easy to get caught up in the same way of seeing things. While this may be fine, it can mean that you get caught up in a narrow view of seeing yourself and everything else and it may be this view rather than the realities of life that can be holding you back.

Just as stepping back a few spaces can broaden your view on a landscape, the same is true by stepping back and taking a wider view of yourself, your situation, the people around you and the world.

Whether you are are finding challenges at work, at home or in your relationships I invite you to look afresh and to look again. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you see.

Rasheed Ogunlaru is a leading life coach, motivational speaker and business/ corporate coach.