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Tag: dreams

Design everything you do

“During my first internship out of college, Stella Lai gave me this tip and it has been the best professional advice I ever received. Try to practice this tip as literally as possible. The obvious areas are how you dress and how your house/apartment/room is organized. I would suggest not stopping there. Your emails should be written/composed clearly and beautifully. Your conversations with individuals should be designed through how you listen, how you maintain eye contact, how you respond (both spoken and unspoken). Everything you do should have a reason, no matter how small. Design requires constant practice, this is a great way to keep growing.” -Some Random Dude

Who is glamorous?

Glamour isn’t limited to the rich or famous. And it certainly isn’t restricted to fashion, the latest gadgets, jet-setters, or a particular brand of car.

In fact, glamour is essential to attracting what you want, both in business and in life. Infusing your life with glamour brings more serendipity, more passion, and a lot more fun.

What is glamour?

Glamour is mystery. It is grace. It is an energy that requires courage and an element of risk. Glamour demands that you see yourself — and the world around you — as limitless. That each day you walk out the door and wonder what might happen. That you look for opportunity, instead of focusing on lack.

Glamour is desire. And desire leads to stories, surprise, and magic. These things often accompany happiness. Happy people are magnets.

Can I become glamorous?

First you must decide the kind of life you want. And then you must take steps to make it happen.

  1. Weave excitement into your day. Set freshly cut flowers onto a windowsill, crack open a bottle of Chianti, handwrite a note of gratitude, spritz your briefcase or backpack or bag with an energizing scent…
  2. Add mystery. Share enough to intrigue and inspire others, but don’t give too much away. Save some for yourself.
  3. Prioritize details. Edit your life as necessary. Remove excess.
  4. Limit stress. Cultivate calm.
  5. Get intentional. Surround yourself with new ideas, art, creativity, and uplifting conversations.
  6. Be bold. Declare who you are, set your own trends, and let your unique appeal shine.
  7. Fall in love. Find something to fall in love with. Every day. People who are in love are captivating. People who love life inspire others to do the same.
  8. Celebrate. Find reasons to celebrate, no matter how “trivial” they might seem.

Life will be as magical or as dull as you allow it to be.

H/T Tonya Leigh

A different lens

So much of life and the way in which we interpret day-to-day interactions is a matter of perspective. Sometimes the best choice we can make is to take a step back and consider our current situation from a different lens.

How can you shift perspective?

Awareness

Set aside time each week to take stock and reflect on the changes you want to make and the goals you have yet to achieve. When we focus on overarching themes, challenges and daily decisions are set into their rightful place.

Evaluation

Where are you headed and are you walking in the right direction? Are you getting the results you want?

Honesty

Chores, calendar schedules, and to-do lists are great productivity tools, but they can just as easily serve as energy leaks, distracting from your most important goals.

Intention

Remind yourself what really matters. Change perspective when necessary. A different lens might help.

The difference between an amateur and a professional

An amateur hopes a goal will happen. The professional sets a goal then works backwards.

An amateur cuts with words. Professionals look for ways to raise their own game while lifting others alongside them.

An amateur relies on hope. The professional acts and demonstrates results.

The amateur seeks attention. The professional graciously accepts accolades, then continues to focus on the work.

An amateur always plays victim. The professional acknowledges missteps and learns from mistakes.

Amateurs operate from a scarcity mentality. Professionals are generous.

An amateur puts in a little work and expects instant results. The professional plays the long game, day in and day out, sometimes without pay, knowing that rewards will come.

An amateur is impatient, reactive, and compulsive. Professionals ground themselves, reflect, and listen.

Amateurs alienate themselves. True professionals know the value and importance of relationships.

An amateur speaks of people. The professional would rather work, plan, dream, and create.

Amateurs fail to set boundaries and struggle to ask for their worth. Professionals are kind, but firm, and aren’t afraid to ask for what they need.

An amateur rarely has routine. Professionals schedule days with intention.

To learn more about becoming a professional, I recommend Steven Pressfield’s Turning Pro. This free ebook is also a great place to start if you’re looking to turn amateur habits into professional ones.

Your daily dose

Choose wisely:

  • water
  • tea
  • coffee
  • sunshine
  • yoga
  • walks
  • ocean
  • mountains
  • fields
  • flowers
  • cloud watching
  • star gazing
  • sunset savoring
  • sunrise chasing
  • writing
  • journaling
  • weightlifting
  • running
  • cycling
  • multivitamins
  • movie theaters
  • bookstores
  • libraries
  • laughter
  • family
  • friends
  • dogs
  • cats
  • horses
  • lunch dates
  • coffee dates
  • phone calls
  • handwritten letters
  • Skype sessions
  • farmers markets
  • newspapers
  • cooking
  • cleaning
  • gratitude
  • Netflix
  • wine
  • chocolate
  • naps
  • painting
  • drawing
  • building
  • dreaming
  • planning
  • driving
  • singing
  • listening
  • talking
  • giving
  • receiving
  • surprises
  • candles
  • love notes
  • playlists
  • music
  • Podcasts
  • quiet
  • reflection
  • meditation
  • prayer

Take as needed.

Where’s your focus?

When setting big goals, most people tend to focus on the future: The changes they hope to see and the results they want to bring about.

Yet those who find the most success know that while it is imperative to have a clear understanding of desired impact and outcome, it is equally important to reflect on the past.

What has worked, and what hasn’t? What already exists and how can that be improved?

Reflection also helps identify progress, a necessary element to encourage a chosen path or the perspective needed to make refining adjustments.

Before setting goals for the year to come, make time to consider what has worked for you — and what hasn’t. Goals are great, but they have a higher chance of coming to fruition when based in thoughtful research and careful consideration.