Wow, it's almost 2007! May I be the first to wish you a happy New Year. It's time to celebrate. This is the fifth anniversary of Writefully Yours; time has certainly flown. Thank you all so much for your support, your letters, your love, your thoughts and criticisms. I am honoured to have such a loyal readership.

Last year, the theme was 'raising the bar'. Based on the overwhelming response this had generated, I have decided to give you some more. 'Raising the bar' meant more research, being more creative, more informative and better educated. I had an amazing response to columns such as the 'Wow factor', 'Resume revamps, 'A setback is a set-up for a comeback and polished professionals'. In so doing, I raised my own professional standards, and 2006 has been an amazing year for me professionally, although my personal life took a beating. I see 2006 as the dress rehearsal of what is to come for me during the next two years.

For 2007, I plan to continue with features such as 'The invisible man', 'How I got here', and adding a new, 'How to in five easy steps'. One of my goals in celebrating the fifth anniversary of Writefully Yours, is to try my best to keep up these features, at least up until May. Of course, I have to address resumes, interviewing techniques and respond to many of your burning questions, but I also want to help you realise your dreams, careerwise. So, let's begin with our thoughts.

Every new year, we begin with a list of resolutions. Years ago, I decided rather than concentrating on what I'm not going to do, I promised myself to achieve what I wanted, to just keep moving forward on my journey.

What is you dream about?

So, I am going to suggest you do the same. Throw away that list of resolutions, which are usually cast aside before we can see the end of February, and let's just make a wish list of what it is that we want. What dreams are you sitting on? What is it you want to really do for 18 hours a day and spend the other 6 hours dreaming about?

Let's begin by how we verbalise our actions. Our thought process is so very powerful and if we believe we can do something, we can achieve it; but, we have to begin by erasing any negative word from our vocabulary.

Your thoughts and language become your realities. No matter what your circumstance you can overcome them, as long as you 're-language' your thoughts. So, here we go. Five words that you should delete from your vocabulary.

Can't

I often hear people say, "I can't get my career off the ground because of lack of funds, etc." Can't is a word that holds you back. As long as you believe you can't you will continue to hold yourself back. Even when you are faced with challenges, that is how life is; you have to consider how you can turn your situation around and turn that challenge into a lesson or an opportunity for growth.

Just

I went to someone's office last week and asked for some information. The person said she couldn't help me, because she was just the temporary receptionist. You are never 'just' anything. You are. You make the position that you have yours; command it, control it, turn it into what you know it should be. Whether it is temporary or permanent position your future career is never just. You are until the time comes for you to be somewhere else. Do not devalue your worth with the word 'just'.

If

Change if to when. Claim and affirm what it is you want. When you stay in the status of 'if', that is all it will be. You have to verbalize what it is you are trying to achieve.

But

But is an excuse. "But, it wasn't my fault," "But this is the reason I cannot." Never preface your situation with 'but'. It is an unnecessary pause that you don't need to slow you down on your journey to greatness.

No

No is a double-edged sword. Be careful how you use it. Sometimes we can use this word too often and too quickly to the wrong people. Sometimes we say 'no', when we should say 'yes', and 'yes' when we should say 'no'.

On the job, when you are asked to do something that is not part of your job, offer to help. Lend yourself to learn. Accommodate your co-workers.

But, when you have to use the word 'no' be sure to say 'no' with no guilt - it is the only way 'no' can be used. It is a useful word and necessary tool to learn when you feel you are being taken advantage of, especially by your immediate family and friends. If you are going to say 'no' and then feel guilty for saying so then you may as well do what you said 'no' to. Because the energy that you are putting into guilt you may as well put into doing what you said 'no' to. Are you still following me?

You have to learn to say 'no'. When you know that what you are doing for them, him or her is slowing you down and is not the most valuable way to assist.

At first, it will be difficult, especially if you have been accommodating various people over a period of time. Remember 'no' is a complete sentence; it is a word that stands nicely by itself. It doesn't come with a list of apologies and explanations. It's simply 'no'. This is how you do it.

You practise 'no' on the person you love the most. Your mother, your children, your spouse. It hurts the first couple of times, but once you get that down with your family the saying of 'no' to everyone else is a piece of cake. You will feel like a load has been lifted off your shoulders. Trust me. It has taken me over five years to perfect it.

So, I've given you five words to 're-language', to help you grow and carve the career you dream of. Start by deleting these five words because we have much to do to reshape our lives and careers. Happy 2007!

Taken from The Sunday Gleaner, December 31, 2006