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Introduction

Broadly speaking, our life can be divided into two parts:

1) Personal, Private or Family Life and

2) Career or Professional Life

Each of the above two can be further divided into different stages. The various stages of Private Life are: Infant, Child, Adolescent, and Adult (Husband / Wife), Parents, Feeder / Earner / Developer and Counselor / Guide / Mentor. Similarly, in a professional life, the different stages that we can have are: Trainee (Learner); 1st Level Executer; 1st Level Administrator / Organizer (Team Leader); Manager; Strategist; Chief Executor (CEO); Chief Administrator (CAO or COO); Corporate / Industry/ Business Leader; Coach; Mentor. In both the situations, it is very difficult to move from one stage (or role) to another; one needs to be mentally, emotionally and psychologically prepared for it. It is only due to the insecurity of an individual, his or her inefficiency to move to another role that we usually see people in the role of Patriarch and BOSS.
For the purpose of this article, we will be concentrating only on the different stages of Professional Life.

Different Stages of Your Professional Life

1) Trainee (Learner): This is the beginning of your career. Usually it comprises 2-3 years. During this phase, the individual learns about the expectations of his profession and expected corporate behavior. You learn about the practical aspects and implementation processes of the theory that you have learned in your graduation, post-graduations and during your management studies. This phase also gives you an opportunity to select the “Domain” within your profession that you want to “specialize in”/ Grow/ and become expert in.

2) 1st Level Executer: To some extant this phase might overlap with your previous phase. In this phase, you get inputs from different sections and you are asked to implement that process and then follow-up. It is like this, your reporting manager or your department head has initiated some policy or process and it is your responsibility to make sure that the policy and process is followed by everyone. You need to follow-up with the people on the floor or at the bottom end. You are also expected to “teach the employees” and make them aware about the processes and procedures, its purpose, impact, regards and punishment. During this phase you need to work very closely with your Reporting Manager and take his inputs and at the same time need to make your own identity. You need to take your decisions through your Reporting Manager. Here, you are process owner. Based on your efficiency, willingness to learn and grow, this phase might last for 2-3 years.

3) 1st Level Administrator / Organizer (Team Leader): Now, that you know the practical aspects of your profession, you have selected a domain with in your selected profession that you like to master and specialize in; you know the nitty-gritty of your domain…now its time to take bigger responsibilities and accountabilities; now, its time to take responsibility of a small team, small but solo and independent assignments and projects. In this phase you get accustomed to resource management. You get to know as how to run the show on your own.

4) Manager: In this phase, the area and scope of your work increases. You become accountable of 2-3 different but bigger projects / assignments. You are expected to manage following things: People Management (and Development); Infrastructure / Resource Management; Cash Management; Revenue and Profitability Management; and Statutory Compliance. Usually, a person stays in this role for 7-10 years.

5) Strategist: Now, you have lots of experience, knowledge and expertise. At this stage, you need to be a great planner, goal setter, creative, developer and innovative. Its time for you to align your domain with the core business. You need to smoothen the functioning of your domain. In this role, you work as a catalyst and as a facilitator. This is not a field job. Most of the time, people around you might not be able to understand, as what you are doing. This role expects a lot of mental strength, expertise of domain and understanding of the functioning of different industries.

6) Chief Executor (CEO): Just like the way we discussed the role of 1st Level Executor (who is a process owner); the role of Chief Executor is to execute the policies, process, strategies formulated and approved by the “Board of Directors”. He is the person who makes the “Corporate Culture” and “Workplace Ethics” for the organization. He is accountable for “workplace practices” that are practiced in the organization.

7) Chief Administrator (CAO or COO): You understand the basics of business; nitty-gritty of the business; people management; Cash, Revenue and profitability management, now its time to handle that at corporate level. As a chief administrator, you are accountable for one particular SBU or vertical or nation (if your company is very huge with millions of people, spread over N number of nations. It is your responsibility to generate revenues and profits. It is for you to plan Business Model for your Business and break-through for the success of your business.

Corporate / Industry/ Business/ Domain Leader: Now, its time to take a bigger leap. You have done enough for your team, your department, your domain, your company and your vertical / strategic unit. From now onwards whatever you do, will affect the Industry as a whole. You will be a trend setter in your profession / domain. You will be a LEADER.

9) Coach: Now, that you have gained lots of experience and knowledge and you are at that stage of your life, where you need to create many more people like you. Its time to pass your knowledge and experience to youngsters and create more people, Managers and leaders like you. Here, your role is to develop and groom young talent. You are a catalyst.

10) Mentor: Last, but not the least, after spending 40-45 years in an active “professional Life” now, its time to take a back seat and let the youngsters grow. Now, your role is that of a torch-bearer; guide; light-house; and pole-star. You are in a position where you can develop life of youngsters.

So, that’s in short is the professional life-span of any individual, irrespective to selected profession and domain. It spans from a trainee to mentor.

Conclusion

In order to move from one phase of your profession to another phase, one needs to be mentally and psychologically prepared. One need to know when is the time to move to another level. This also shows that irrespective of your profession HR, Marketing, Technical or Finance…one is capable of being and should be in all the phases of profession. It is only then when we are not confident about our abilities, or we are so comfortable with our present role and position that we don’t want to move out of that zone…that we behave like a BOSS. Bossism is nothing but forcing your views or ideas ONLY on your SUBORDINATES. They have NO SCOPE to Grow and Learn. Learn, grow and blossom in your profession. Life is short and sky is the limit.

Now, you are in which phase of your professional life???

Life is wonderful, if you believe that.

This world is beautiful, if you feel that.

Looking forward to your views and feedback

Regards

Less than a decade back, medical tourism was hardly in vogue. Patients living in developed nations, like the United States, had no alternative but to foot the exorbitant bills charged by their local healthcare centers. Countries processing the healthcare requirements through a public healthcare system were so overburdened that it took years for the treatment process to get initiated. Nevertheless, the present scenario of the healthcare system in most of the developed nations has not changed much. The rising medical expenses and the lengthy waiting periods are still common in most of the developed nations. But, unlike ten years back, the patients in these developed countries now have a far better alternative of fulfilling their medical needs in an even better and convenient manner. Today, a majority of developing countries are extending world-class cost effective medical services as a package to suit the needs of these patients. Not only that, the patients opting for these packages get added facilities like five star luxury accommodation and a chance to visit the tourism wonders of that country.

The quality of medical treatment available in these developing countries is at par and sometimes even better than that of the United States and UK. The medical practitioners in the countries specializing in medical tourism are not only well trained but also have considerable experience in their own domains. The respective governing bodies of these countries, after having realized the growing potential of medical tourism industry, are leaving no stones unturned to popularize their services by raising their quality standards. In the past few years many major corporations have also made substantial investments in setting up state of art hospitals and clinics providing world-class medical services. As a result, today more than two lakh foreign patients visit countries like India and Malaysia to meet their medical needs. In the coming years, it’s estimated that more than half a million foreign patients will seek medical treatment in India alone.

Among the various countries offering medical tourism services, India has been successful in carving out a niche segment for themselves. Recent estimates suggest that the number of patients from foreign countries opting for a medical treatment in India is growing at the rate of 30% each year. From the economic perspective, by the year 2012, the medical tourism industry in India is all set to earn a revenue of around $2.2 billion dollars a year. The primary reason that can be attributed to this success is the sophisticated medical infrastructure available in India. Apart from that, India also offers some added medical benefits that are otherwise not available at a cheaper rate elsewhere. Foreign patients coming to India for a hip replacement surgery can very well opt for a hip resurfacing procedure, which not only reduces the post operative trauma but also is done at a far economical rate as compared to other destinations.

In the years ahead, the market for http://www.recoverdiscover.com/”> medical tourism in India, as well as in the other countries will be in a continuous state of expansion. The number of patients seeking medical treatment in foreign countries will continue to increase, particularly from the United States, not only because of the low cost factor but also due to the likely growth in the number of people without a health insurance or a dental coverage.

What’s stopping you from getting all of the patients you desire? Is it your technique? Your office staff? Your reputation?

The answers are most probably no, no, and no.

What is it then?

Let’s look at the historic facts that most people live with: they hate dentists. Historically, dental work has hurt – especially for us older folk who grew up with a very limited choice of care. So we either don’t go to the dentist regularly, or go only when there is an emergency – and then don’t return.

There are several issues here: finding patients, getting patients to return, and having referring dentists choose you to refer their patients rather than their other dentist friends.

PATIENTS DECISION FACTORS

Since patients don’t like coming to dentists, they have to make a decision to visit one at some point – hopefully prior to having a dental emergency. And, while you can connect with referring docs, or place ads, or have a web address, the patient still has to choose you.

How do they choose? How do they know it’s time to go to a dentist when they are not having pain? How do they know to choose one dentist over another if they don’t have a regular dentist?

It’s a choice they must make. What criteria do they use? Is it money? Is it pain? Is it proximity?

How do you find your target audience? Through current patient referrals? Through clicks on your website?

Here are a couple of Facilitative Questions you might use – on your site, in phone calls, in marketing materials – to help people choose you over your competition:

How do you know when it’s time to visit a dentist?
How do you know which dentist to choose?

Remember that it’s a choice they need to make. Telling them you’re wonderful is not only a difficult thing to do, it doesn’t help.

REFERRING DENTISTS

One of the easiest ways to get new patients is through referring dentists. It’s easy to get others to agree to refer you – take them to lunch, keep in touch, attend conferences with them and get to know them – but there is an inherent problem here: how do they decide to refer you over other dentists they know?

Again, here are a couple of questions you can use to help them:

How do you choose dentists to refer your patients to? How would you know that the way I work would serve your patients ethically and appropriately?

FACILIATIVE QUESTIONS

It’s very difficult to tell others that you’re wonderful. It’s also tricky to tell current patients that they need cosmetic dentistry (Mary, you’d be pretty if you had white teeth.).

Using Facilitative Questions will teach your patients how to recognize and manage their internal criteria so they can make a decision based on their own beliefs – not based on any information you might direct at them. After all, decisions don’t get made based on information.

How are you currently growing your business now? What is stopping you from getting all of the business you deserve? From getting the patients that deserve you?

Once you begin asking the appropriate questions to help your patients decide, then they will know how to choose you, get all of the work done that they need to have done, and decide collaboratively with you how to move forward to give them the best mouth and smile they can have.

With the increase in good transport links, the options to work from home or satellite offices and people’s general acceptance of moving across counties or indeed countries for the right role, packages have become more and more interesting to both attract and retain the right people. So what is in the remuneration package and how do you value it?

Salary – the key thing that everyone knows. It benchmarks where you were to how far you’ve come. It gives you a feeling of where you fit within your peer group and it opens physical doors by way of how much you can borrow as a mortgage. You know what your outgoings are. You know which are essential and which are nice to haves in your monthly spending and you know what you need, can and will accept as a minimum basic salary.

Bonus – lots of roles are now being offered with a flexible bonus on top. This can be as much as 20% of your salary, would typically be paid annually and will be awarded against the achievement of personal and company objectives. Annual bonuses are great; they can pay for a holiday, a DIY project, a special event or even a car. If you are living comfortably within your salary a lump sum is a glorious treat.

Commission – if your role generates any type of revenue for the Company you may be entitled to commissionable pay. This will be awarded against a revenue generation target and is typically paid monthly or quarterly. It is a great incentive to do well and can create ongoing feelings of high self-esteem when you make commission month on month on month. This can easily increase your ‘normal’ monthly income, giving you a higher standard of living and can be used in conjunction with mortgage applications when it is regular and consistent.

Car or Car Allowance – a company car is just that. A physical vehicle, often entirely of the Company’s choosing (even down to the colour) and you will be taxed on it’s value as it is a perk. If you are covering a lot of business miles this is a great benefit to have. The car allowance on the other hand is a monthly amount awarded dependent on your salary grade and will arrive with your salary payment (also taxed). You don’t have to prove you are spending this money on a car but you will be expected to drive a vehicle that is appropriate to your role and that falls within certain company parameters. This is a better option than the physical car when you do less business miles.

Home Office – on work from home roles your office expenses will be covered; broadband and phone plus a percentage of your domestic heating and lighting bills (worked out on square meterage of the office versus square meterage of your house). The real benefits of working from home though are in the huge amount of time and money you gain by not having a commute. There are also savings on lunches out and dry-cleaning.

Shares and Stock Options – some companies will gift you shares on joining, others will give you options to buy stock at reduced rates on an annual basis to a maximum percentage of your salary. This gives you a real vested interest in the success of your company and even in fluctuating markets, over time most shares do increase in value. There will probably be stipulations as to how and when you can sell your stock.

Healthcare – a lot of companies offer private health for their employees. Some include your family too; spouse and children. Those that don’t can normally offer you the option to add your family at a reduced rate.

Gym membership – large companies can have a gym onsite which you can use at similar times to that of regular gyms. Others have deals set up with a local gym that their employees get better monthly membership fees. Perfect if you either like to keep fit, or have been intending to start. There is also a huge chance that your colleagues will be using the gym too making it easier to find training buddies.

Pension – contributory, meaning the company will also pay into your plan so this has a real financial value to you or non-contributory where your input is your own.

Holiday entitlement – if you are in Europe you will get at least four weeks plus the standard public holidays. Some companies start you on five weeks, others increase the amount of your entitlement dependant on length of service up to a maximum of six or seven weeks. If you have a flexible benefits package you might be able to buy more days over and above the company standard.

Other things you might get include dental cover, free medical wellness checks, eye tests, laptops and mobile phones. When you are considering your options and assessing the remuneration offered it is worth sitting down with a pad and pen and calculating the worth to you of all of these things. Gym membership might not appeal to everyone but if you are someone that already pays for that you can deduct £X from your outgoings straightaway. If you are going to be working from home and you have typically been office based and dropped into your local sandwich shop you might be saving another £100 per month. Packages are quite complex and have various elements, although it is easy to know if the basic salary is what you wanted the rest can also have a huge monetary value in both income and savings. Take some time, pour over the offer and work out just how good this is for you!

In order to have a strong, active and growing business, you will need to have good referral sources and also be able to provide good referrals for your clients to receive services that you do not offer.

Florida? California? Aruba? Thinking of retiring to a tropical destination? Consider Panama – one of the world’s top retirement destinations and a world class tourist location – particularly for adventure and ecotourism.

From its pristine white sand beaches and Hispanic colonial ruins, to its untouched primary rainforest and year-round tropical maritime climate; Panama City, Panama offers an ideal primary residential destination. Panama retirees can enjoy the benefits of a developing economy, take a taxi across town for under $4, get a haircut for $5, or enjoy dinner with a bottle of wine at a trendy Panama City restaurant for under $20 a person. There are also many activities to enjoy including its jazz clubs to art openings to English-language theater performances.

Need additional motivation to retire to Panama? Consider the reasonable condominium pricing, and the fact that the government of Panama has the best incentive program in the world for foreign retirees — its incredible pensionado program. Panama’s pensionado program was created via Law No. 6 and Law No. 9, both passed in June, 1987. Today, the program still provides pensioners with the most appealing special benefits the world has to offer. Under the pensionado program, retirees are entitled to the following:

o 50% off entertainment, such as movies, theater, concerts, and sporting events
o 30% off bus, boat, and train fares
o 25% off airline tickets
o 30 to 50% off hotel stays
o 15% off hospital bills
o 10% off prescription medicines*
o 20% off medical consultations*
o 15% off dental and eye exams*
o 20% off professional and technical services
o 50% off closing costs for home loans
o And more…

Additionally, pensionados also receive a one-time exemption on the importation of household goods of up to $10,000, and, additionally, will enjoy an exemption from duties for the importation or local purchase of a car every two years. The government has also set up an additional national and foreign investment program where new properties have a 20-year exoneration period during which investors do not have to pay any kind of real estate property tax.

Rated as the number one place in the Americas for retirement by Modern Maturity magazine (based on safety, cost of living, infrastructure attractions, beauty and climate), Panama’s lifestyle offerings and cultural activities coupled with the gorgeous beaches and great surfing, kayaking and diving, ensures Panama has something for everyone.