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Tag: goals

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

If you can communicate your ideas, you can get anything done

Are your communication skills holding you back? Make it a priority and set goals to improve.

Register for this free online course on Public Speaking (class starts July 2), or check out Leading With Effective Communication.

For more free online learning opportunities, browse content from Udemy, Coursera, Toastmasters International, and the Public Speaking Project here.

Remember: If you can communicate effectively, you can get anything done.

Greatest hits

442 posts published since 2012. Here are the top 12 most visited:

  1. 12 questions to turn small talk into real talk
  2. 5 rules of hustling
  3. What brings people together?
  4. A coffee riddle
  5. The quiet room
  6. 19 things you can do instead of grad school
  7. 10 questions to ask at a dinner party (instead of “What do you do?”)
  8. The people in your life will make or break you
  9. 7 perks of growing up
  10. Stop trying to find your purpose
  11. 7 sins of crowdfunding
  12. No one has it figured out

Thank you for reading, for asking questions, for exploring, and for committing to make the world a kinder, more generous place.

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

Behind the scenes

Most people don’t see the hours of practice, the nights of silence, the thinking, the planning, the frustrations, the worrying, the sacrifice.

They see only a snapshot: A product, a final cut, a performance, the last edit.

True artists know that the work is rarely finished. It’s back to the drawing board. More nights at the desk, more late hours in the office, more emails and meetings and calls.

True artists won’t let someone else’s snapshot alter their own value or vision. These artists will continue to quietly strive, working to perfect their art and their craft. They know there may never be an end, but they are grateful to have summoned enough courage to pursue their own unique path.

Add magic

Instead of focusing on what is wrong or needs to change in your life, add something. Look for ways to fill your life with magic.

Once a day, once a week, even once a month, incorporate something that inspires you: A song that brings you joy. A place with fond memories. Fifteen minutes sitting on a bench in the park. Dancing.

Get intentional about this. Instead of waiting for a miracle to happen to you, create one for yourself. Fill your space with candles or flowers. Take a class. Wander aimlessly through a bookstore. Play. Sit in the sun. Find a new restaurant.

When you actively build excitement into daily living, work becomes more productive, relationships become more fulfilling, and life becomes brighter.

I wish for you magic, today and always.