Spark

And...she's AWAKE!

I made it through the night / sleep out and I am alive! 😊

And guess what?

The grand total raised for The Benjamin Foundation as of this morning is ...

£1015!!!

If you meant to give a donation but forgot or didn't have a chance, my fundraising page is still open and you can donate here;

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KatieSmith07

THANK YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH! 😊

Katie

From Spark's Commander-in-Chief;

It's no secret that I prefer the summer months to the winter…the sunshine to the cold and rain…and thoroughly dislike the prospect of sleeping anywhere but in the utmost luxury.

BUT…on the night of Thursday 12th November 2015 I will be taking myself completely out of my comfort zone and will be sleeping outside all night in an exposed tarmac car-park in the centre of my home city of Norwich.

Why? Well…my aim is to raise as much cash as possible from charitable donations whilst also highlighting the challenges facing homeless young people in and around Norfolk.

Although my experience won't compare with the levels of hardship faced by those who are homeless, I hope that it will highlight just some of the challenges faced by people who are forced to sleep outside during the winter months whilst the rest of us are tucked up warm and cozy in our beds.

So please take a moment to imagine me laying in my sleeping bag in a Norwich car park...freezing, shivering, and GRUMPY...and wish me luck! :)

Better still, if you are able to make a donation to a very good cause, that would be fantastic.

You can sponsor me via my Virgin Money Giving site: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KatieSmith07

Donations will be quickly processed and passed to my charity of choice - The Benjamin Foundation - whose work involves supporting young adults who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

This Sleep Out is also part of a national event run by Centrepoint, and it is expected that around 2,000 people nationally will take part this year at venues across the U.K, so if you can - get involved.

I really appreciate all of your support and thank you in advance for any and all donations.

With kindest regards,

Katie x

Director - Spark

In November Spark's Commander-in-Chief, Katie Smith, will be doing something a little bit crazy to raise money for young homeless people in Norfolk. You heard it here first...watch this space... ;)

Are you struggling to find your motivation this Monday morning? Try Spark Career Coaching...

Spark are on the 6:24am to London today ready for 4 days of MBTI and 16PF personality profiling @ Holborn Bars...EXCITING!

Spark are on Bishopsgate in London today doing some Executive Coaching...what a great lead into the weekend! :)

A fantastic little article about The 3 Personal Development Goals Successful People Pursue Habitually...http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241836

The 3 Personal Development Goals Successful People Pursue Habitually Understanding why extraordinary people develop particular habits is much more useful than simply imitating your heroes.

Do you need a confidence boost, or do you want to feel better enabled to deal with work / life challenges that you are facing?

Contact Spark Business and Life Coaching... www.wearesparkconsulting.com

Do you need help with you career? Whether it's deciding what your next move should be, establishing your ultimate aspiration, working out how to excel in your current organisation, or finding a healthy work / life balance, contact Spark Coaching.

Spark now has over 200 followers on Twitter! Follow us at . Thank you! :)

Are you a happy person, or are you harsh on yourself?
Happiness has huge value and significance and needs to be something we all seek in our lives. Along with happiness comes that great, positive, vibrant energy that lightens up the days for others around us as well as ourselves.

Good energy attracts positivity and positivity attracts good energy. Of course, along with happiness also comes satisfaction, translating to living a carefree life.

Here are some signs that you are truly happy:

1. You’re Always Smiling
Are you smiling and full of joy every day? If you’re not doing so already, then you need to smile more. Smiling is a big sign that you’re happy, radiating lots of positive energy to the people around you.

2. You Have Happy Friends
Are you a person who likes to interact with others and surround yourself with happy people? Do you have happy conversations with friends, or are most of them filled with sadness and misery? Happy friends emit happy and positive energy, lifting you up when you need it.

3. You Trust Yourself
Are you a person who trusts yourself and your judgment? Do you realize that people who constantly doubt their own judgment are vulnerable to a lot of psychological problems? Those problems include mood swings, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and possibly depression. No one wants these problems, so make sure you prevent them by trusting yourself as much as you can.

4. You’re Getting Enough Sleep
Would you rather make more money on your annual income, or get one more hour of sleep? I know some people might say, “Well, if you really want success, you need to work for it and sacrifice other things.”

Other people might say, “Well, I’d rather sleep because I simply like sleeping more than working.”

Being unhappy can hinder sleep and worse things can follow. A good night’s sleep promotes low stress levels, and it’s a sign you are truly happy.

5. You’re Living In The Present
Do you often think of the past and whatever you did that you’re not really proud of? Well, this causes distress and unhappiness, so try to avoid it. Living in the present spares you this unhappiness, and it’s a sign you’re enjoying your life. Utilize the past mistakes only for learning, and focus on the present because this helps you move along the happiness scale.

Happiness is a very nice feeling to have. These ideas are just a few of the countless signs that you are truly happy. Look for whatever makes you happy. You do not need to follow anyone to be happy, because what works for someone else might not work for you.

Have you already found happiness? What’s your secret? Please share it in the comments below so the rest of us can learn from your awesomeness! ;)