VA Success Group – Business & Careers

February 21, 2026 George Post in Personal Development

Starting On The Road To Self Development

When we are children, our whole existance is one of personal development. From first waking up in our cot, expanding our movements to include standing up to see over the top of what must seem like the walls of a castle. Once crawling, Mum and Dad ensured we are penned in, cafefully to keep us from banging our head or falling on something painful. Then once we make the massive leap from the rapid crawling from corner to corner and all point inbetween, to pulling ourselves up at the edge of the sofa and gradually learning to manoeuvre ourself along the furniture, slowly but surely improving until the big day . . . we make that huge move from walking along the sofa to walking across to another sofa or armchair. The steady progress, accompanied by claps and gasps of surprise from the neighbours tells us we have made good moves and the way to keep the adulation and applause rolling is to keep up these mini milestones. So the same happens when school commences and leads on to college and university - every stop is planned and we choose the exams to take at the end of the school period that will help us onto the right path for a particular career or vocation. This is where the first stage of active personal development begins its life long task. That concious and very deeliberate choice of one subject over another to achieve the aim some years hence. Whereas when a baby, every action was a dvelopment but not governed by choice but natural brain function. With a career modelling choice we actually look at the alternatives, weigh up the pros and cons of taking a particular route, look out for and consider other ways of achieving the goal. However hard we work in any segment of the road to qualifying or starting that first training course, we know what is needed to reach the pinnacle. Only our own decisiona and actions can have an affect on the success or failure of the venture. Developing critical the senses of self purpose, self awareness and self promotion are the tools to getting where we want to be.

January 21, 2026 George Post in Career Development

Making Those Small Changes Can Bring Career Development

When you are in a job, that will be in what we would call an established career or simply a means of bringing in the salary to pay for everything. There can be many reasons why someone doesn't want to take steps to progress their career or opportunities open to them. Sometimes it is laziness, but often it is because they don't actually realise there are ways to move up the progress ladder which can be taken entirely by themselves without intervention by others. There are hundreds of suppliers and providers of training online courses in every topic imaginable. For a role focused course, some providers will concentrate on only that sort of role and the many permutations that might be open within it. We say nursing, but that now covers many different roles from community nurse or health visitor to midwife, to theatre nurse pre and post operative. In fact the list if probably inexhaustable and this is a good thing. However to reach the pinnacle in any one of them, a certain amount of self push is needed by a candidate and looking through the many and varied training or refresher courses availabe through their health service provider web site is a great start. If they work within a particular institute or hospital, they may become aware of openings which are not advertised as such - word gets around. To be in a good position to apply for a more responsible position, it is always necessary to be able to show a documented path from first training and early work in the unit to latter performance assessment reviews. To take additional training in one's own time is a step towards indepedently fending for themselves and showing that they do not need to be hand held all their working life. Selecting the right fource for the chosen career is a good point however and every job within a big organisation with have its own job description, clearly laying out the responsibilities and expectations of the finished outcome. It will also have a person description which has been carefully scripted to ensure that each applicant knows exactly what is expected of them and what they are required to bring to the role.

December 21, 2025 George Post in Business

Great Businesses Take A While to Develop With Leadership & Tools

It probably goes without saying that like every organisation, however long it has been in business, the leadership and way they manage their colleagues, is key to the most successful ones continuing. You can throw all sorts of money and incentives at a job but unless the folk are there on the ground, willing to put in that extra effort, that additonal hour or two, then it will always be a struggle to maintain standards at all times. A good leader is able to communicate clearly and enthusiastically - they galvanise their work colleagues and employees to want to improve their own performance and match the top notch one/s. These leaders will always be passionate about the business and the products. There is never any doubt about their loyalties to the product, the company and the entire body of staff. In fact, their aim is always to enjoy what they do and not sweat the small stuff. They will go all out to achieve the top position the company can reach and very often that will take as bit of strain. It is worth it though. Respect for each other is critical in every working environment. The positivity and encouragement cannot be over emphasised. This ability to build and maintain great relationships with all staff and colleagues makes them trusted and fully worthy of their employees respect.

November 25, 2025 George Post in Career Development

How To Roadmap One’s Career & Life Plan

You could say that the top dogs in our society have their personal lifespan mapped out from birth. They attend the top schools and often their families are connected to a particular career path over many generations - be that law, medicine, military, naval or perhaps the church. They just have to keep chugging along on their way, through school, choosing the right exam route for the career and then on up through university. It is probably rather sobering for a youngster with that start in life to discover how limited their choices are, but they don't ususally have to struggle to attain a position. Take the average joe though, small junor school, feeds into state secondary school, unless they have a really clear idea of what they want to do when they leave school, it is left to some talented careers advisers and teachers to inspire their brood. However, many young folk blossom when at upper school and in college - where they discover a talent or a calling in a particular direction. This is where the personal development strategies should be clocking in. If they think about their lifeplan then, they will know that the career choices are enhanced greatly by really looking carefully at the examination grades needed for their chosen career - if they want to study law and have a plan to become a barrister, do they know how to get that training contract and what routes are needed - do they know which university would be best for the task ahead. Being able to demonstrate this forward thinking approach in a well documented presentation when the time comes, will help any candidate stand out amongst many other 'also rans'. This is very important when spaces are at a premium.

October 27, 2025 George Post in Personal Development

Personal Development Means Better Results & Achievements

There are many phrases we hear in the media, on tv, amongst friends who are going places . . . . personal development is generally used in hushed tones when someone is talking abut a particularly bright student, or the failure of said bright star to secure the top job they've yearned for over the years. Actually personal development means a lifelong undertaking. Instead of taking life as it goes, calmly swimming along with the rest of the crowd and only succeeding in very limited spheres. In fact with a hefty dollop of personal development, it is amazing how succesful someone can become. If the self imposed development begins early enough, each job will be secured first time of trying; confidence in one's ability to sway the 'court of public opinion' when it comes to debating a point. Self improvement courses and activities are a continuous process and this enhances existing skills. Self reflection enables one to accept when something has not gone particularly well and in which way it could have been improved, what additional training may have made all the difference to an application for promotion perhaps. Being able to set goals for self achievement and to make progress stops on the way, looking back to see if we have moved along as far and as quickly as the personal life plan has allowed or required. Deliberate actions have to come into play, interactions socially and emotionally to know what bad experiences mean, as well as the good. Intellectual, physical and spiritual elements of life and a mark of personal development comes when each element comes into play.

September 9, 2025 Neil Post in Personal Development

Rain Ruined Your Newquay Holiday? Here’s Why It’s Actually Perfect Surf Conditions

While other tourists are hiding indoors complaining about the drizzle, smart holidaymakers are out there having the time of their lives. Here's the secret locals know about 'bad' weather surfing. The weather app shows grey clouds and a 90% chance of rain. Your family is groaning about the "ruined" beach day, and you're contemplating another expensive afternoon at the indoor attractions. But hang on – before you write off your Newquay holiday, let me share something that might just save your entire trip. That "terrible" weather you're cursing? It's created some of the best surf conditions you'll find all year. While disappointed tourists head for cover, every experienced surf school newquay instructor knows that these are often the days when magic happens on the waves. The Beautiful Truth About Overcast Days Professional surf instructors will tell you that their favourite teaching days are often the ones that send other tourists running for cover. When those dramatic grey clouds roll in over Cornwall, something magical happens in the water. First, the beaches empty out. Those crowded lineups that had you worried about bumping into other beginners? Gone. Instead, you've got clean, uncrowded waves and plenty of space to practice without feeling self-conscious. "Some of our best lessons happen on drizzly days," explains longtime instructor Mike from a popular surf school newquay. "The students are more focused, there's less distraction, and honestly, the waves are often at their best." Why 'Bad' Weather Creates Good Waves Here's the science bit that'll make you appreciate those storm clouds: the low-pressure systems that bring overcast skies also generate the swells that create perfect beginner waves. That light onshore breeze isn't ruining your holiday – it's grooming the waves into ideal learning conditions. When the sun's blazing, the thermal winds can make the water choppy and difficult for beginners. But during overcast conditions, you often get that perfect glassy surface that makes every wave rideable. The water temperature doesn't change just because it's cloudy, and modern wetsuits mean you'll be perfectly comfortable regardless of the air temperature. In fact, many students prefer cooler conditions because they don't overheat during the physical exertion of learning. The Focus Factor There's something about dramatic weather that brings out the best in people. When the conditions look challenging, students arrive with a different mindset – they're ready to embrace the adventure rather than just go through the motions. "Rainy day students are often my most successful," notes instructor Sarah. "They've already committed to getting wet, so they're less worried about falling in. That fearless attitude makes all the difference." Without the distraction of sunbathers and beach games, students concentrate better on their technique. The atmospheric conditions create an almost meditative environment where you can truly focus on reading the waves and perfecting your pop-up. Photography Gold While your friends back home are posting their hundredth sunny beach selfie, you'll be capturing something truly spectacular. Moody skies, dramatic lighting, and the contrast of colorful surfboards against stormy backdrops create photographs that…