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December 30, 2021
This Is How To Actually Achieve Those 2022 Goals, According To A Canadian Life Coach
If you had goals that you had to put on hold in the last 20 months or so, now is a perfect chance to revisit your ambitions and maybe take a step (or several) toward them.
Solutions-focused coach and wellness expert Eva Redpath is a pro at setting goals and building actionable plans to help you achieve your dreams. She feels the pandemic has forced people to confront and focus on things that are important to them and has seen this repeatedly with her clients.
If you're ready to make some goals but are unsure where to start, Eva suggests identifying one area of your life where you'd like to see some positive change and going from there.
Envision your desired outcome and how it might feel, then ask yourself where you are now in regards to what you want to achieve.
If you're feeling stuck, you can narrow down your priorities by listing different areas of your life (career, friends and family, recreation, health, money, personal growth and physical environment, for example) and then rate how satisfied you are with each of them from 1-10. This can help you better visualize where you might want to invest more time and effort.
Another nugget of wisdom from Eva is to start small. She believes it's the little things compounded over time that create big results. This is handy to remember in those moments when you feel discouraged or lack motivation.
When things get tough — and they will — you can choose to stay the course. You're resilient and you can handle whatever life throws your way.
If it turns out finance is a focus area for you, you're certainly not alone. In fact, according to a CIBC survey, eliminating debt is one of the top long-term goals of Canadians.
Saving for the future is another popular goal, with 30% of survey respondents saying they want to put more money away.
CIBC is here to help in this area, and the bank believes there's never been a better time to celebrate your ambitions and turn them into a reality.
"The two best pieces of advice I've received are to pay yourself first and to start investing as soon as you can," VP of finance and investment advice at CIBC, Carissa Lucreziano, told Narcity.
"I remember when I was in my early 20s, a coworker who was getting close to retirement always encouraged me to open an RRSP account. I'm thankful that she did because the small amounts that I contributed really added up over time."
Carissa's big takeaway here? The sooner you start investing, the sooner you can let the "magic" of compounding do its work to boost your savings.
Compounding is what happens when you reinvest your earnings to get a return on them plus the original investment. Bottom line: the longer you're invested, the higher your growth potential.
You don't need a huge lump sum to begin investing. Carissa recommends starting small, even with just $25 a month.
And you don't have to figure it out on your own, either. A CIBC advisor can help you choose investments that suit your goals and your risk tolerance.
When it comes to hitting specific financial goals, Eva advises Canadians to save for a rainy day. But don't stray off course when you feel discouraged.
There'll be setbacks, obstacles and interruptions along the way, of course. Just focus on what you can control and pivot to get back on track.
Letting people help is an important strategy too. The 2021 CIBC Ambitions survey indicated that about half of Canadians agree that when you share your ambitions with someone, they’re more likely to happen. That’s why it’s beneficial to involve others, like friends, family, a coach, financial advisors or mentors.
Whether your goals are financially focused or centre around another important aspect of your life, remember Eva's approach.
"Getting in touch with our ambitions, what is important to us, and what we want to accomplish in life, helps us choose goals that are purposeful and in alignment with our values," she says.
"Achieving them leads to a sense of fulfilment and can have a positive effect on other areas of our life."
So, as you reassess what direction you want to head in for the rest of the year and beyond, take time to figure out what your next step will be. And don't forget, you have it in you to achieve whatever your goals may be.
Learn how CIBC can help you reach your financial goals by visiting their website or following them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax or accounting advice.
Featured Partner
8 Reasons Why Working In A Call Centre Might Be More Interesting Than You Think
National Bank's mission is to cultivate a people-centric, inclusive and stimulating environment for its employees, offering them the chance to grow and advance within the organization.
Haven't thought about working in a call centre before? There are a lot of benefits to call centre jobs (nice wages and advancement opportunities are just the beginning), and it could be exactly what you need if you're ready to move ahead in your career.
Have A Positive Impact
Every day is different at National Bank, where you'll be key in helping clients find simple, secure and customized solutions to all sorts of situations.
You'll play an important role in bringing customers' projects to life, and their gratitude is a reminder of the active contribution you made in supporting them to achieve their goals.
National Bank operates all across the country, which means you could have a positive impact on the lives of millions of Canadians, whether by phone or email.
Learn Something New Every Day
Courtesy of National Bank of Canada
To reflect the changing nature of call centre jobs and recognize its employees' expertise, National Bank has recently renamed its call centre the "Customer Experience Centre."
Agents regularly find themselves in situations where they can let their financial prowess shine when giving clients advice. This is why employees are encouraged to develop both their customer service skills and their banking knowledge.
Proud of its agents' commitment and growth, the National Bank pays attention to what the Customer Experience Centre team members need and ensures that they're happy in their roles by changing workplace practices based on employee feedback.
Work In An Inclusive & Diverse Work Environment
National Bank firmly believes that a company that embraces diversity and values inclusivity is a strong and innovative one, which is why it launched a plan to create an open and welcoming culture for all.
National Bank is committed to adapting to the realities of its employees and strives to maintain its reputation as a people-centred institution, with well-being and teamwork as two of the bank's core values.
Career Development & Advancement Opportunities
There are many jobs available at National Bank, including as a call centre agent. Because there are different customer experience centres, each with its own specialty, you'll have the chance to help customers with all sorts of issues and expand your own knowledge and skill base at the same time.
You'd be providing customer service to people from a variety of backgrounds and in all sorts of locations, making no two days on the job the same.
Whether you're interested in investment, credit, insurance, brokerage or all of the above, there are plenty of opportunities to learn.
The Perfect Balance Between Technology & Human Interaction
If you have a passion for both tech and helping people, a job at National Bank allows you to explore both.
Technology is an integral part of the job. You'll be using mobile apps and online services daily to communicate with clients and turn their issues into solutions.
By listening to your client's needs and using your knowledge of the digital tools and tricks available, you can become an expert in customer service and a tech wizard at the same time.
Great Working Conditions
Courtesy of National Bank of Canada
National Bank offers a variety of financial benefits. As a call centre agent, you'll start at $21 an hour with two guaranteed raises in your first year, six weeks of paid training, and opportunities for evening and weekend bonuses.
National Bank also offers flexible schedules, so you can work part time or full time, up to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week.
There are a few different places where you can work from too. For example, if you're a city dweller, you can work from National Bank's convenient downtown location near the Square-Victoria-OACI station.
If you're a student looking for a job, National Bank also offers tuition reimbursements. The company respects your school schedule and cares about your ability to strike a good work-study balance.
Save For Your Future
In addition to competitive wages, National Bank also offers exclusive programs to help its employees save and plan for retirement.
Team members get vacation leave in their first year of employment and have access to a great health and wellness program, flexible group insurance plan and pension plan.
Telehealth services and a share-acquisition plan are also available to all employees.
They're Looking For A Wide Variety Of Applicants
Jobs at National Bank are open to people from all sorts of backgrounds. Whether you're a student looking for a career change or you're semi-retired, there's a job for you.
All you need is a high-school diploma, the ability to speak both French and English fluently, a dynamic personality and the willingness to learn and grow.
Sounds good? To apply, head to National Bank's website, create your applicant profile and fill out a questionnaire about your skills and interests. Your profile will remain active for two years, and you can update your information anytime you want.
After you apply, you'll receive an email confirming that the team received your application. All that's left to do is cross your fingers and wait for the next step!
To learn more about the call centre jobs, check out National Bank's website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.
This article was originally published in French on Narcity Quebec.