We tend to associate rich with materialism and the throwing around of stacks of money on fancy things.

However, that’s not what the new real rich invest in at all. It could even be questionable if they avoid it. It’s definitely not about the designer brands and flashy cars anymore.

Nowadays, it’s common for middle-income people to be able to buy designer bags and fancy new cars but the new rich show their wealth in a different more subtle way beyond just materialism.

Consider one of the youngest billionaires in the world, Mark Zuckerberg.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him holding a LV bag, rocking a Rolex or driving a Rolls Royce.

Here are 5 ways on how the new rich live and what they’re burning their cash on – it’s probably not what you’d expect:

1. Health

The new rich are definitely investing in health.  With technological and medical advancements, there’s tons of new information on ways to lead healthier lives.

The new rich tend to take health and exercise more seriously, even going a step further by customizing their foods and exercise to their own individual bodies.

They are making use of new medical technologies going as far as being able to help you identify what your body specifically requires and attains just through your blood sample.

They are constantly finding ways of improving their quality of life through health and take their frequent medical checkups seriously.

Another aspect of health that the new rich take care of is their psychological well being.

If you were going to a therapist in the old days (and in some cases even today), the ignorant usually associate it with having clinical issues.

Nowadays, with increasing importance given to how our human psychology affects our daily lives directly, the new rich invest in their mental well-being.

It would be common for the new rich to have their therapist or coach on speed dial for rainy days where they need some uplifting.  They value being aware of their mental state and keep focus on improvements on their thoughts and subconscious.

The new rich educate themselves on the importance of having a healthy mind and take measures to keep it that way.

“Your mind and body are not separate. What affects one, affects the other.”

2. Education

Continuous self-development and growth is a popular and important concept when it comes to the new rich.  It’s about the continuous growth of what you know and what you can know more.

According to a BBC Capital Story, spending on education for the new rich has increased by a significant 3.5 times over since 1996 while middle-income spending on education has stayed pretty much flat over the same amount of time.

That’s a huge difference.

When I talk about education, I’m not only referring to academia.  While the new rich understand that constantly improving education in your field of work is important, they also try to incorporate other hobbies and grow other potential talents.

They invest in their interests as well.  For example, taking a lesson at being better in golf, pursue singing, dancing or even learning to play a new instrument.

The new rich understand the importance of being a well-rounded individual and waste no time they utilizing the tools provided to improve themselves in all aspects of life and be successful at whatever they can master.

Especially with the power of the internet – education has become more accessible to everyone. You can literally do a course on just about anything from the comfort of your own home. The new rich don’t want to waste time traveling to and from classes – they rather have the information and learning at a click of a button. For this reason, we have made my Public Speaking and Presenting Masterclass available online.

Link : Online Public Speaking Masterclass

3. Retirement

Personal planning is very important for the new rich. they focus their finances on security and it shows that retirement is one of the top aspects they are investing on.  This shows that the new rich place importance on thinking ahead and envisioning a safer and securer future.

Questioning whether or not we’ll have enough funds to provide us with the kind of retirement lifestyle we want is something a lot of people tend to overlook.

For many working-class individuals, sometimes the thought of saving money and thinking about a retirement plan isn’t really in the books.

This is only up until the realization sets in that nothing lasts forever and with time, things will begin to change.

That’s when investing a portion of your salary into retirement comes to mind.

Consider that it’s better late than never.

4. Travel

It’s one of the most priceless experiences you could ever have.

Being well traveled is important for your growth as a person.  Going new places, potentially meeting new people and witnessing new culture is nothing short of an honoring experience.

With globalization becoming more and more common in our present world, traveling frequently has become one of the ways the new rich live.

To explore other parts of our world and see beyond the boundaries we have been comfortable in builds awareness.

5. Appreciating Assets

The new rich understand that sometimes you have to spend money to earn money.

One of the ways through which they do that is through investing.

Investments can be on buying a new home, properties, art, land or even buy shares in increasingly popular companies.

They secure their finances through finding other reliable sources for income that would have a high chance of appreciating in value over time.

In Conclusion

The new rich realize that investment in all these areas can noticeably impact a person’s quality of life by a landslide than someone who doesn’t do any of these.

They choose to spend their money on things in life that truly matter rather than buying things they don’t necessarily want to impress people they may not even like.

It also improves the quality of life for the next generation and is far from spending on materialistic things that eventually mean little.

The step to take action on such aspects also defines and secures a strong social standing in society even if it may not necessarily show it.

“Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost. Life.” – Steve Jobs on his deathbed.

Anger is an emotion that everyone possesses but I like to believe that it’s only the weak that hold onto it.  Anger is nothing but destructive and negative and it can be very toxic to you and your mental health once you let it manifest.  Anger is the one emotion that brings out the worst in us, makes us say and do certain things that isn’t in our character some of which take a moment but we would regret for life.

Learn to control anger before it controls you through these 4 steps:

1. Breathing Techniques

Your breathing has a huge calming effect on your body.

Whenever a certain uncomfortable emotion arises, our breathing becomes altered and it can aggravate the situation even further.  I understand that it can be difficult to find a calm retreat in the middle of your rage, however it helps to visualize and to imagine yourself in a different place in order to calm your body’s heart rate down.

Breathing Exercises shows us some helpful tips on how to breathe once you feel yourself getting angry, stressed or frustrated:

1) Right now, or whenever fear or anger occur immediately force an exhale. Do not “gear up” by taking an in-breath, just force an exhale now.

Continue the exhale until you can not exhale any more air and then let a deep effortless in-breath come in. Repeat this again, please.

2) Right now, or whenever fear or anger occur immediately force an exhale. Do not “gear up” by taking an in-breath, just force an exhale now.

Continue the exhale until you can not exhale any more air and then let a deep effortless in-breath come in. Repeat this again, please.

3) Right now, or whenever fear or anger occur immediately force an exhale. Do not “gear up” by taking an in-breath, just force an exhale now.

2. Surrender

When I say surrender I mean everything that’s holding you back from calming down and letting the stress go.  This could be your ego even if you don’t call yourself an egoistic person, you might not realize that it’s actually getting the best of you.

Surrender your need to be right.

Even if you are, you don’t need to prove that to anyone else, just keep it between you and yourself and let go of your need to prove something to someone.

Surrender the blame game.

It doesn’t matter who did it and it’s not going to diffuse or help the situation any better, either. Let go of the finger pointing.

Surrender the need to be spiteful and vengeful because this is toxic to your own health at the end of the day.

Letting your anger completely control you to the breaking point of wanting to hurt someone else or get even is going to do more damage to you than to anyone else.

3. Laughter and Smiling

Similarly to what I said about breathing techniques, laughing and smiling could be hard to do in a situation where you’re becoming angry and getting frustrated. However, scientific research comes to show that once you smile (even if it’s forced), it releases positive ‘happy’ chemicals in your brain.

Let’s give it a shot right now and show me that big smile of yours.

According to NBC News, Dr. Gupta who is a neurologist from IGEA Brain and Spine explains,

A smile spurs a chemical reaction in the brain, releasing certain hormones including dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression. Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression.

In other words, smiling can essentially trick your brain into believing that you’re happy when you’re actually not and it can spur the actual feelings of happiness.

Although you may look a bit psychotic trying to crack a smile while you’re angry, faking it till you make it seems like it’s worth a shot!

4. Face the Problem

For the sake of closure, try tackling the problem that’s making you angry in the first place.  Address it head-on and seek an understanding of why then articulate the reasons for why something made you as angry as it did.

Do things that will help you move forward instead of staying where you are, drowning in your anger, the closer you are to a resolution or a solution, the faster you can set yourself free from any anger that’s been holding you hostage.

Look for the ending of what made you angry whether it was something significant or once important to you if that helps you move past your anger.

Conclusion

Although being anger and feeling rage or hatred is normal, it’s extremely toxic towards our body and our soul. It can even go as far as affecting our health and put us in a situation where we are at a greater risk for heart disease.

A lot of us can go through life not even realizing, understanding or acknowledging our anger triggers and it can cause us to take a lot of irrational actions and decisions.

If you’re someone who focuses on the betterment of yourself and your future self-development, you owe it to yourself to work on how you can maintain your anger and set yourself free from one of the most toxic emotions ever known to man.

Ever had that ‘aha!’ moment when a light bulb just goes off in your head?

I’m sure every single one of us at one point in our lives or another has come up with great ideas that can actually change the world and impact it in a way that makes it better. Whether it’s a new app, a new business idea or even a new product or service, whatever our goal is.  Many thinkers in philosophy have regarded an idea as a ‘fundamental ontological category of being’.

Everything great once started with an idea.  An idea is what has essentially built empires, societies, beliefs and even goes as far as dictating how we function in our everyday lives.

If executed the right way, ideas can lead to impeccable innovations.

1. They Don’t Have Persistence

I believe that every single one of us has a purpose in our lives in this world. It’s just up to us to find out what that purpose is and to persist until we make that impact.  A lot of people have amazing ideas but without the right execution, they can never come to life.  One thing I’ve learned in life is that anything is possible once you persist and it’s definitely something that is easier said than done.

Unfortunately, a lot of people create doubts in their heads and stop believing in their intention.  One of the main causes for this is because many lack persistence.  Persistence is the ability to embrace whatever shortfalls you might have in the future as lessons and keep going, learning and growing.

Think about it, have you ever had an idea but because it didn’t work out and you faced a lot of difficulties you either got distracted or just simply let it go because you thought it would never work?

When something isn’t working out in the time that you imagined it to be doesn’t mean that it’s impossible or that it’s a bad idea – it simply means that you are being faced with challenges that will push you in the right direction and equip you with more knowledge and experiences to get closer to your end goal.

In order to have persistence, you must be open to failure and I’ll even go as far as to say embrace it as a positive indicator of being shifted into the right direction rather than a sign that it’s time to throw in the towel.

2. They’re Trying to Solve the Wrong Problem

Having a great idea is a good start – but it’s not enough.  Sometimes, you need to go back to the drawing board and take a look at things from a bigger perspective.  Let’s take Instagram for example, I know a lot of people who can criticize what’s wrong with it and how they need to add X, Y and Z features to make it better.

Although that’s all well and good, and you’re probably right – it’s not the same for everyone.  Instagram got famous because it’s easy to use and understand and that targets a larger user audience than if they started incorporating other complicated fancy features – ironically enough, that’s their competitive edge.

It’s important to grasp the fact that the larger your target audience is for your idea, the more successful it will be.  Always focus on how you can make the impact bigger rather than getting absorbed in perfecting each and every little detail so make sure you’re solving the right problem by making it feasible, beneficial and practical.

3. They Have Poor Execution

It’s great that you’re passionate about something and you truly believe in it.  Don’t forget that after the creative fun part of an idea is formed, the equally important part of how to practically execute it comes into play.

If you don’t know what you’re doing or lack any guidance in this department, chances are your idea probably won’t be that successful.

You need to have someone that can help you execute your idea and guide you in a better direction because having a lack of expertise can lead to some serious consequences.  Falling through the cracks can be easy and much of the gap between expectation and performance is all due to failure of executing strategy effectively.

Think about the best appropriate way to bring your idea to life in its best light – don’t be a victim of another poorly launched idea.

4. They Underestimate the Power of Marketing

Everything you do is marketing and marketing is truly the heart of any business, organization or idea.  I strongly believe that marketing plays a huge role in the success of any idea and a lot of people unfortunately underestimate the importance of effective marketing.

Let’s think about this for a second and say you have an exceptional product called product ‘A’ and you have a mediocre product called product ‘B’.

If you see everyone buying product B, sharing pictures and videos of product B and even talking about product B you’re more likely to buy product B than product A – even though product A could be better by a landslide.

Many of you won’t necessarily agree with this, but I wrote an article on what everyone can learn from Kim Kardashian.  Now, whether you love her or hate her, she is a marketing genius.  Whether you follow her or not, you can’t escape all the news and publicity about her.  And just when you think you forgot about her for a second, she pops up again!

Read related: 6 Business Lessons We Can All Learn from Kim Kardashian-West

Marketing creates demand, influences behavior, creates wants and needs that were maybe not even there to begin with!

5. They Have Wrong Timing

You need to make sure that your idea is appropriate to the time that we live in.  There have been numerous startups and businesses that failed because they were just too ahead of their time.  A great example of this is what was called a ‘Chind?gu’; a term coined by Japanese inventor Kenji Kawakami to describe useless gadgets.  In a book called, ‘101 Useless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chind?gu’ in 1995, Kawakami described the selfie stick as a “useless invention” which later on went to gain global popularity in the 21st century.

It goes to show that not all ideas are bad or completely impractical, some are just ahead of its time and it goes to show that if it doesn’t make an impact on your target audience, it can fail quite miserably.  Although you can have a great idea, executing it at the wrong time can lead to its downfall.

Timing isn’t just about launching it either this quarter or the next, it’s much broader than that.  It’s about being able to analyze the condition of the industry, audience or gap you’re targeting as a whole and as a culture.

Conclusion:

Ideas are something worth spreading and exploring because there’s always a trigger to why you thought of them in the first place. However, it’s important to be able to understand that once you’ve thought of something, it’s not just rosy fields and sunshine from then onwards, it comes down to real dedication, hard work, persistence and calculated decision-making skills.

Lastly, don’t forget that many brilliant and well-known philosophers, scientists and innovators that we think of as visionaries were actually scoffed at and worse, called liars. Some examples of this are Gregor Mendel and Nikola Tesla. Always remember that it’s your responsibility to do justice by yourself and commit to turning your idea into a reality to leave your mark and impact in this world.

On average, every job opening in the corporate industry attracts around 250 resumes.  Only 4 to 6 candidates are called into an interview and only 1 is offered the job.

Seems pretty intimidating, doesn’t it?

It is.

That’s also why it’s extremely important that your resume portrays you in the right light otherwise you might not get the opportunity at all.

Let’s check out some statistics mentioned in an article on Undercover Recruiter:

Recruiters spend an average of 3.14 minutes reading a candidate’s resume and they have generally made up their mind within the first minute.

1 in 5 recruiters will actually reject a candidate before they’ve even finished reading their resume.

5% of applicants are dishonest when describing their previous roles or the time they spent in a job.

10% of job seekers have applied for 50 or more jobs without hearing back.

Sounds like some pretty intimidating stuff, right?

Buckle up because I’m going to show you 5 important and essential tips to make sure your resume gets read:

1. Use Correct Grammar

Oh, for the love of grammar!

Some people are going to go ahead and think that this is a no-brainer but trust me, it isn’t! When I want to recruit, you’d be shocked at the amount of people who submit their resumes without even double-checking their grammar.

Did you know that according to UR,

59% of recruiters will reject a candidate because of poor grammar or a spelling error. Though these mistakes seem small, they indicate that the candidate is sloppy and hasn’t taken the time to proofread their resume.

And I can’t agree with them more!

Before a company can ever even call you in for an interview, you failed to make a good first impression on paper.  That’s already a pretty big indicator to them about the kind of employee you could be. Present yourself on your resume as the same way you would in person.

Make sure you use proper language and correct grammar because there’s no excuse for handing in a sloppy resume to any potential recruiter from any respectable company that you want to work for.

Moreover, nowadays where we’re all exposed to the Internet and Google, there’s no excuse even if the language your resume is in isn’t even your first language.

2. Keep the Visuals Professional

Presentation counts. Yes, it’s important that your resume is attractive but only if it’s executed in the right way. Keep it professional and avoid ‘snazzy’ out of the ordinary decorations and colors.

44% of recruiters get put off from a resume because of the use of distracting borders and backgrounds.

42% of recruiters get put off from a resume because of the use of inappropriate or unnecessary clipart and emojis.

31% of recruiters get put off from a resume because of inappropriate use of fonts.

Imagine what would happen if you had all of the 3 big no-no’s on your resume but in reality you are the perfect candidate for the job. You wouldn’t be given a second chance just because of the lack of professionalism!

Yes, visuals can help, but make sure it’s within the professional criteria, for example, use all black colored fonts, capitalize at the beginning of sentences and for pronouns and use bullet points to keep the layout easily readable and consistent!

3. Avoid Clichés

Ever heard something so many times to the point where you find yourself rolling your eyes?

Trust me when I say this, whether a recruiter is reading resumes or an interviewer is asking you questions, they’ve probably heard a lot of people say the same things many times before.

Avoid saying clichés that make you sound unoriginal and no offense – boring.

According to Undercover Recruiter, some phrases that put recruiters off are:

‘I can work independently.’ – Most people can!

‘I’m a hard worker.’ – Yes, aren’t we all?

‘I work well under pressure.’ – Congratulations you tough cookie!

I mean, that’s all great but isn’t everyone?

Think about what sets you apart from the crowd and mention the things about yourself that a lot of people don’t have so that you’re not just another paper in the pile.

4. Tailor Your Resume

Make sure you tailor your resume to the position you’re applying for. According to Entrepreneur,

41% of HR managers look for whether or not the resume was customized to the open position or not.

Tailoring your resume doesn’t mean you’re going to change it up altogether, it just means you need to make adjustments to make it relevant.  The reason for this is because, as mentioned before, ‘1 in 5 recruiters will reject a candidate before they’ve even finished reading their resume’ so you want to grab their attention and make it relevant as soon as they lay their eyes on the first sentence.

Secondly, focus on the content. This means actually understand the job that you’re applying for and make appropriate changes to your bullet points about relevant information on there. For example, if you are applying for a managerial position, it would be important to mention more points on how you’ve thrived in leadership positions before and make sure you make it the first section of your resume.

5. Keep it One Page

Eliminate all the fluff.

Recruiters don’t have time to go through really long resumes, and it’s one of the things that actually puts them off and make them want to stop reading.  Your resume should be short, concise, to the point and relevant in all aspects.

If you have too much information going on it can also confuse them, and once you’ve confused them, they don’t make a choice so you’ve pretty much lost them.

Other ways through which you can make your resume more appealing, short and concise is through eliminating the use of unnecessarily big words, run-on sentences and random jargons because it can set hiring managers off more than impressing them.

Keep to the point – especially with an average of 250 resumes coming in for one open position, nobody wants to waste time.

6. Replace Your Objective with a Pitch

Don’t forget that when you’re sending out your resume, you’re marketing yourself.  A great way to catch the recruiter’s attention is through replacing your opening statement or objective with an elevator pitch!

It’s understandable that condensing your entire work history into a few short words (no longer than 25 to 50 words) can be difficult and challenging to say the least.  One of the ways to get around it is to make sure you have the right information. I always mention that whenever you’re addressing an audience, even if it’s on paper, you need to make sure you have three important factors covered, so ask yourself,

Is it educational?

Is it inspiring?

Is it entertaining?

Creating the right balance with each of these elements is what’s going to make you stand out from the crowd.

Seek gives a great example of an opening statement that leaves a lasting impression:

I’m a self-motivated, creative copywriter with five years of marketing and advertising experience, specializing in digital content with a keen interest in social media.

By making it short, precise and to the point, you ensure that you leave them intrigued by making a lasting first impression.

Sample CV:

Download Sample CV

Conclusion:

Writing resumes is never easy, but no matter what level you’re in the industry or where you’re applying for your next career advancement, always remember that you’re trying to market and sell yourself.  You can be sure that you’d make a great fit for the company and the team but others don’t.

You owe it to yourself to make sure you have an above-average resume that’s going to ensure that you get called in for that interview.

Once you’ve made it through the door and you’re on to the next step, read my other article on ‘How to Ace an Interview’.

Isn’t that like being psychic?  Wouldn’t it be interesting and probably even helpful to know whether someone’s lying to us or not?  Is it even possible?  So many questions and so little answers!  According to Pamela Meyer, author of ‘Lie Spotting’,

Lie spotters are armed with scientific ways to spot deception.

It’s indeed an interesting subject. Although sometimes it can be easy to spot when a person is lying to you, other times, you won’t even notice that someone’s lied to you.

Here are 6 scientific ways through which you can spot a liar:

1. Listen More, Speak Less

Research suggests that liars tend to speak more than people who are telling the truth because they want to sound legitimate.  Liars tend to be generous when it comes to sharing details, which shows that they’ve probably put a lot of thought, effort and rehearsal into what they’re going to say.

On the contrary, honest people tend to give more direct and ‘to-the-point’ answers, usually because they don’t have to think about they’re going to say since they’re telling facts.

Aside from over-sharing of information, pay attention to the way that they speak.  An indicator of stress is when someone talks louder or faster.

A change in the natural tone of voice and repetitive clearing of the throat and coughing are all signs of deception.

2. Repetition of Questions

Another great indicator of if someone’s lying to you is when they stall by repeating a question you just asked, for example:

“Did you take out the trash?”

“Did I take out the trash? Yes, I did.”

I’m sure we’ve all done that when getting caught doing something wrong by our parents.  Everyone has a different reaction to getting caught lying, some get nervous and some try different ways to stall questions in order to give the ‘right’ answer.

Plus, usually when someone stalls a question, it’s either because they’re thinking about it or they don’t want to tell you.  And if they don’t want to tell you, you can probably guess that they’ll lie.

3. Contradictions

This is a pretty obvious way to tell if someone’s lying to you.

Look for contradictions in their story – see if something adds up or not.  When you’re listening closely, and paying attention to details of what they’re saying, it’s pretty hard to miss contradictions.  Liars don’t tend to have fool-proof stories, so if the story doesn’t add up, it’s most probably not true.

In terms of body language, a usually slow-talker could be talking really fast.  Someone who’s usually very animated while talking is now just sitting still looking around.

This isn’t to say that you should go looking for trouble, maybe they are telling the truth but ask them about the contradiction and their response and body language can you’ll be able to pretty much tell.  Try not to be intimidating when you ask either because that can cause them to get nervous which doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re lying.

4. A Smile Can Tell All

A lot of people can’t fake a smile or any or body language because it just happens unconsciously.

Interestingly, according the Psychology Today,

Smiles are used extensively by experienced liars because they both make others feel positive and also tend to be less suspicious about them lying.

It’s like a mask that people can use to cover up any negative feelings they might be having about lying and many fall for it.

Moreover, another reason why a smile is a great way to check if someone’s lying or not is to watch their face.

If the ends of their mouths reach the their eyes, if they squint or other indicators like crows feet, you can probably consider them telling the truth.

However, if they smile and nothing else in their face moves, then there’s a big probability that they’re lying to you.

5. The Word ‘No’

Pay attention to the way they say the word ‘no’, it’s a key word to observe if you suspect that someone’s lying to you.

For example, they could say ‘no’ and look in a different direction, hesitate beforehand, stretch the word out, close their eyes or change the tone of their voice.

This can also be used beyond just the word ‘no’, for example, if you ask a liar a direct question and they show body language of stalling (as mentioned in the previous point) which could be looking around, or trying really hard to think, you can probably assume that it’s because they’re lying.

Be the best judge of the situation!  You’ll be able to tell given the context or circumstance.

6. They Can’t Tell a Story Backwards

People who lie tend to add certain details to a story, which makes it harder for them to remember.  Those extra details often don’t add up, either.  If you have a feeling that someone’s lying to you, ask him or her to retell the story backwards.

You’ll notice that if someone’s lying, they’ll potentially simplify the story to avoid contradicting themselves even more.

When it’s difficult to recall details of a story that never happened and especially when they’re caught off-guard by it and don’t have the time to be able to rehearse.  Here you can look for other signs mentioned above that could show that they’re stalling or smiling and such.

Sometimes, it can be pretty obvious.

Conclusion,

Lying and being lied to is pretty common and happens on a daily basis.  Can you remember the last time you lied?  You probably can’t recall, but it’s actually been a lot recent than you’d think.  According to an article by the Independent, they claim that research shows that in just a span of 10 minutes, the average person will tell at least 3 white lies!  There’s always ways to tell if someone can be lying to you or not, but these aren’t set-in-stone.  They’re just indicators to help you identify if someone’s potentially lying to you.  At the end of the day, there’s no ‘real’ way to read someone’s mind—and that’s the truth.

It’s totally normal to get nervous before an interview.  You never know what’s going to happen, what you’re going to be asked or how to prep for it.  Worse case scenario, your nerves get the best of you even though you know you’re fit for the job.

So, let me help you secure that opportunity by putting your best foot forward and understanding these 9 mistakes you should never make in an interview:

1. Anything Unprofessional

I mean, that’s a no brainer, right?

Wrong.

Common sense isn’t common practice and for that exact reason, let’s just get this one straight out the way.

Once, I had someone ask me where I get my hair styled from and what color I dye it, while I was interviewing them.  Another time, a candidate applied for an administrative role and kept on talking about how much she loves public speaking and how she wants to become a public speaker.

It’s important to keep focus for why you’re here because it’s a reflection on your character and a foreshadowing of how you can hold and carry yourself in the workplace and how productive of an employee you can be.

Keep to the point and remind yourself of all the great qualities you possess that would make you a perfect fit for this job!  You have to present your best foot forward, show them what you’re made of and why they would hire you.  One of the ways in which you can stay being professional, is to prepare so you can be more confident.

Keep from saying things like, ‘Sorry, I need to take this call‘, ‘Sorry I’m late!‘ (DON’T BE LATE) and ‘How long will this take?‘

I’ll answer those questions for you so we can get them out the way now.

Firstly, using your phone in the middle of an interview is highly unprofessional and there are a shockingly large number of candidates who actually think its OK to use their phones.

Secondly, it doesn’t matter if a half an hour interview turns into a one and a half-hour interview. Sometimes, if it’s running longer, it’s usually a good sign.

Lastly, just don’t be late.  The ideal is 15 minutes before your interview time is scheduled for.

2. Asking What the Company Does

When people ask me this question, it’s a no for me, straight off the bat.

It shows that you didn’t put in any time or interest before coming in to find out what the company you could be  working for does.  Neither does it show the interviewer that you’re prepared or if you even care about this opportunity at all.

Make sure to research the company that you would potentially like to work at before you head over to the interview.  Nowadays, we have social media and almost every company has a website, the resources are at your fingertips – it just takes a couple of seconds to pull the information up on your screen.

Otherwise, other than it reflecting on your lack of initiative, it just wastes the interviewer’s time.  No one wants to sit there repeating themselves about the company for each and every candidate.

Do yourself a favor, and do your research!

3. “It’s On My Resume”

The interviewer is aware of that it’s on your resume.  They’ve seen your resume.

Always be prepared to say something more beyond just a written word because your communication and social skills are most likely going to be evaluated to see whether or not you could be face-to-face with a client or not.

Usually when they ask you questions on things that are already on your resume, they’re trying to see your articulation skills or to go into more detail about that specific role/experience.

So, next time, instead of answering a question with an ‘I don’t know’, seize this moment to talk about yourself and express what a great communicator you could be and show how well-spoken you really are!

4. Don’t Jump the Gun

When you express questions related to what’s in it for you, this can give the impression that you’re not really passionate about getting the job that can look really unappealing and arrogant.  The interviewers want to know what you bring to the table.  Talking about your demands too early on can be highly damaging to your chances of even getting your foot in the door.

Some questions that can throw interviewers off are, ‘So what’s my salary?’ or ‘What kind of benefits will I get?’ – that all just makes sound like you’re only there to take rather than give.  Any job-role is a two-way street and in order for you to be able to considered for a position, avoid coming across as self-serving.

This might also show the interviewer that you’re in it for the wrong reasons – and they steer clear of employees who show any of those signs.

Now, no one’s saying that you don’t have a right to ask all of these questions, but there’s a time for it. Wait till you get a second interview or job offer to discuss these topics.

5. “I Don’t Know”

Points for being honest but it’s the wrong direction.

It’s always good to be transparent with an interviewer and show a bit of character while holding a professional stance, but just replying to a question with an ‘I don’t know’, just may give off the impression that you’re incompetent and think on your feet.

Trust me, sometimes, interviewers are going to throw questions your way that they know are difficult just to challenge you.

If you really don’t know how to answer the question, the way you present yourself on how you tackle that situation give off a good impression that you have potential to be practical in real-life situations that may require you to think fast.

So, instead of saying, ‘I don’t know’, you could say something like ‘you know what, that’s a great question, let me think about that!’

6. Anything Negative About Your Old Company or Boss

This is a big no-go-zone for a lot of reasons.

Firstly, it’s going to reflect badly upon you – not anyone else.  If someone you just met comes up to you and starts telling you all their life problems, you’re not going to feel bad for them, you’re going to be so put off to the point where you’re going to see them in a bad light, even if what they’re saying is true.

If anything, it sounds like you’re complaining and trying to get pity.

Are you going to say negative things about this company if they hire you?

Are you going to say negative things about your new boss?

All these things matter and speak highly on your character.  Not only that, but it might even make them think that maybe you’re the one with the issue and not the other way around.  No one wants to hire a troublemaker.  Besides, even if that is the case and your old company or boss was horrible to you, you should still have discretion towards them if ever brought up in topic.

Ultimately,

There’s not hard and set rule on how to prepare for an interview, but preparation is key.  Get to know the job that you’re applying for beyond just reading it and frame your responses according to that.

Secondly, get to know the company you’ll be working for as well as you can and build a strong foundation on everything you should know.

Check out their social media to get a better vibe of who they are and what they do.  Lastly, sell yourself! This is the best chance to talk about all your strengths and what makes you special for their company and always have a list of questions that you would like to ask them.

Read my other recent article on how to ace a job interview here.

Setting materialism aside, I think owning things that symbolizes our accomplishments in life and our hard-earned money is something worth doing. The fact that you know you deserve them and that it gives you great “pleasure”, making you forget all those pressures at work, frustrations with clients, killer deadlines, and sleepless nights.

Check out these 7 things that I believe every successful woman should have. Whether you’ve made or haven’t made it yet, use this list as your aspiration to keep going and getting the things you deserve.

1. The Iconic Chanel Jacket

Four real pockets, silk lining, and a delicate chain to ensure that it falls perfectly, the Chanel jacket is undeniably iconic.

A timeless classic worn year after year, it is without a doubt one of fashion’s most revolutionary pieces. It never goes out of style – you can reinterpret and reinvent it in a thousand ways: with skirt suit, tulle dress, or even jeans! The versatility of this jacket is beyond impressive. As how Karl Lagerfeld put it, “Some things never go out of fashion in the world of fashion: jeans, the white shirt, and the Chanel jacket.”

Price tag: From $10,000

2. Quality watch

Wearing a quality timepiece has been associated with sign of success or status.

It becomes a wearable trophy, a daily reminder that says ‘I can do this’ –  Kevin gray of The Wall Street Journal.

By quality watch, I’m not just referring to timepieces marketed by fashion labels; I’m talking about watches that were made by serious watchmakers, such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Piaget.

These are considered investment-grade pieces – not to mention, a probable vintage collector’s edition in 20 or 30 years’ time with a very significant value when they go to auction.

Did you know that the Patek Philippe 1518 wristwatch was sold at auction for $11,136,642 and is now the world’s most expensive watch?

Price tag: $11,000 – $48,000 (Patek Philippe)

3. Diamond Tennis Bracelet

This is an iconic piece of jewelry that every accomplished woman can have.

Popularized by tennis superstar Chris Evert in the 1980s, the diamond tennis bracelet is such a fine piece of jewelry and a very classic accessory that enhances your sophisticated look. Dress up or dress down – they look great with just about any outfit, even with a daily wear.

This bracelet also signifies your journey to success. It’s one of those pieces that can grow with you as you achieve something – you can start with smaller diamonds then, as your budget allows, you can gradually upgrade to bigger diamonds as your success grows. Now, my recommendation when it comes to upgrading/trading your jewelry is to buy it from a jeweler and build a relationship with that jeweler so it would be easier for you to trade your pieces.

The diamond tennis bracelet is also a sentimental piece that can be passed down. I wore my diamond tennis bracelet on my wedding and it’s something that I’ll definitely pass on to my daughter.

Price tag: $5,000 dollars – $100,000 (depending on the size of the diamonds)

4. Birkin and Kelly Bags

These “it” bags are literally about “the effort of earning it” – because even though you have the money, you can’t just get your hands on it. They’re rarely sold to anybody. And these bags don’t care if you’re “somebody” – you can be on the waiting list for years.

Is it arrogant?

Yes.

Is it obnoxious?

Yes.

Do we still want it? Hell, yes!

The world’s most coveted carryalls became popular because of the unique stories of the women behind them.  In 1981, designer Jean-Louis Dumas was sitting next to actress Jane Birkin on a plane and realized she was struggling to keep all her belongings in her straw bag.  Birkin admitted she couldn’t find a leather bag she liked – and so, Dumas took that simple remark as an inspiration and the “Birkin Bag” came to life. In 1956, actress Grace Kelly gave Robert Dumas’ Sac à dépêches Hermes travel bag a new association after the paparazzi photographed her using the bag to shield her pregnant belly.

From that moment, the bag became known as the “Kelly Bag”.

Both the Birkin and Kelly bags are considered status symbols and great investments.  Here are some quality fun facts: the average Birkin takes 48 hours to make and is completely handmade by one artisan; while the average Kelly takes 18 to 24 hours to make and is completely handmade by one artisan.

Now, how many Birkin and Kelly do you want – that’s all up to you? But, having one is a must.

Price tag: $ 379,000 (Himalaya Birkin)

5. Investment Property

The question of why you should invest in real estate has a very simple answer: it assures good financial returns that only appreciate as time passes.  Other benefits of property investments include:

• Maximizing your tax return
• Appreciation of your asset values
• Capitalization of the physical assets
• Positive cash flow
• Using leverage to maximize asset value

It’s a smart business move and at the end of the day, there are many benefits of investing in real estate that definitely outweighs the costs and it makes you earn a steady flow of income.  Because of the never-ending inflation, nowadays, it’s sometimes not enough to just rely on one income coming in.  When you invest, you don’t leave all your eggs in one basket, essentially you’re spreading them around.

With the right investment, you can enjoy the added advantage of diversifying your investment portfolio.  Not only that, it also makes you feel pride in your ownership!

Price tag: $300,000 (decent studio apartment in the UAE)

Read related:

5 Things The New Rich Are Investing In – And It’s Not What You Expect

The Top 7 Investments for 2018

6. Buy Your Own Home

Owning a property should be one of your top priorities.  It’s all about securing your future, retirement, and saving in the long run.  And above anything else, isn’t it comforting when you can call a place your own?

Some other advantages of owning your own home include more privacy, they typically appreciate in value, provide a home for your future family and build equity.  When you own your own home, the costs are pretty predictable too and it’s definitely more stable than renting.

Last but not least, it makes you feel proud.

Price tag: $3,000,000 (decent family villa in the UAE)

7. Bank Account

A successful woman has savings.  She knows she needs a backup plan.  She knows that sometimes unexpected things happen that could possibly leave her without an income for a period of time, or an emergency could come up which could require a big outlay on her behalf.  A bank account doesn’t just allow you security, it allows these savings need to be easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Whatever the circumstance, a successful woman is prepared.

Price tag: there’s not price tag to this – it should be healthy enough to allow you to take a year off or retire early

What other things should successful women must have? Let me know by commenting below.

Whether you’re getting to know someone, are in a relationship or have been married for 50 years, men are truly simple creatures and what they look for in their women is pretty straightforward.

I’m a proud feminist so when I say women tend to over complicate things; I’m not taking any sides, I’m just speaking my truth.

Here are 8 things most strong men look for in a woman and surprise surprise, it’s not a 20-something-year-old with platinum blonde hair.

1. Intelligence

Beauty may be dangerous but intelligence is lethal.

Popular claims like ‘men prefer women who are not as smart as them’ get confused in translation.  For one, let’s address the fact that there is more than just one type of intelligence.  Intelligence doesn’t only come in the form of ‘book-smarts’, your career or how many degrees you have.  Intelligence can be found in the way you communicate, make decisions and handle situations.

If you’re a successful researcher in a field of science or have many advanced degrees – that’s great for you! This doesn’t mean you overload your partner with ‘matter-of-fact’ information or conversations because this can actually be counterproductive and ultimately, a turn-off.  It can come across as you thinking you’re better than him.

Intelligence is always attractive and it’s without a doubt extremely important.  There’s always a way to show your partner that you’re intelligent and have him appreciate it, genuinely.

When men look for what they want in a woman for a long-term relationship, they look for someone who they can hold a conversation and exchange ideas with.  You can show your intelligence through, for example, having opinions and stands on what’s going on in the world, making perfectly rational choices when it comes to cross-roads and being able to think for yourself.

So don’t think twice about reading your books and continuously gaining more knowledge – life is about constant self-development – just avoid coming across as a ‘know-it-all’.

Since she’s smarter than me, the only way we resolve anything is by arm wrestling. That is my only chance of winning anything with her because if it’s an intellectual battle, I would lose. She’s the smart one in the family. – George Clooney on Amal Alamuddin

2. Mystery

Men being men, love the chase and the mystery that comes with it.

This is also human psychology.

The less you know, the more curious you’ll get.

Men love to ‘decode’ and read women and once interested, other women in comparison seem plain and ordinary.

If you reveal too much about yourself in the first couple of meetings, what’s left for him to find out?

According to Psychology Today, it’s common knowledge that ‘people like people who like them. This is one of the most replicated findings in all of social psychology. But people also like people who might like them. This is one of the most well known principles of seduction.’

Since men love to chase, mysterious women become a challenge and it gives them a ‘kick’ out of it.  The unpredictability is extremely exciting to some.  Women who only reveal a little bit of themselves at a time are the ones who can keep them interested longer.

However, there’s a balance that needs to accompany the mysterious act.  If you go too far, it can make him feel unsafe around you and emotionally disconnected.

Always remember that everything in moderation blossoms.

The essence of romance is uncertainty. – Oscar Wilde

3. Respect

A person who is nice to you, but is rude to the waiter – is not a nice person.

Respect comes in a lot of different ways.

The way you talk and carry yourself, the things you do, the way you treat others is all a reflection of the amount of respect you have for yourself and others.

If you use foul language commonly, throw temper tantrums on the littlest things and lack consideration for other people’s feelings – you won’t be considered very mature and therefore, not get much respect.

Moreover, men look for women who they find pride in when introducing them to their friends and family. If you’re not a respectful woman, he probably won’t be too willing to go through with that idea.

Establish your boundaries, your values and the kind of woman you aspire to be and he will respect you for it.

 4. Affection

The most desired gift of love is not diamonds, roses or chocolates.

It’s focused attention.

Men aren’t as in tune with their emotions as much as women and that’s one of the reasons why they crave an affectionate, emotional connection with the woman they’re with.

Men love being nurtured and given attention to. For them, this is a sign of femininity and makes them feel more masculine.

By being positive and uplifting, you’re creating a loving space that men truly appreciate more than you’d think.

Surprisingly, according to an article in the Daily Mail, more than 1,000 couples who had been together for an average of 25 years were questioned by scientists for the sake of the study.  Results showed that frequent kissing or cuddling predicted happiness in the relationship for men more than women.

Doing things that show you care like simple hugs, kind words and appreciation are surprisingly underrated. Men are simple – just like anyone else who would need attention and care!

While I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film, my lady was raising our daughter, pregnant with our second, and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer. If she hadn’t taken all that on so I could have this experience, it would surely be someone else up here. Sweetheart, thank you. – Ryan Gosling on Eva Mendes

 5. Ambition

There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.

Contrary to popular belief, ambition attracts ambition.  It’s unfortunate how many women believe that men don’t appreciate or want successful, intelligent or ambitious women.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

From a psychological viewpoint, we’re more drawn towards people who resemble us and who we want to be. When a man is around an ambitious woman, it would make him want to be a better version of himself, too.  This can motivate him and make him see you as a positive influence in his life. Energy – whatever form – is surprisingly contagious and there’s no relationship better than when two people better each other.

Again, similar to men liking intelligent women, there’s a balance that comes with being able to be ambitious and vulnerable depending on the situation.  An ambitious woman recognizes when and where it’s required and is still able to put her guard down towards her partner because too much of something can come across as aggressive and overwhelming.

I’ve got to say, I always found it great if she was making all kinds of money. I didn’t feel threatened by it at all. – Barack Obama on Michelle Obama

 6. Confidence

Confidence is the ability to feel beautiful without needing someone to tell you and if you can’t love and appreciate yourself – no one else will.

A lot of women deny compliments from their partners, insist on their negatives, don’t take care of themselves, lack self-esteem and continuously compare.

All of these factors don’t contribute towards anything except towards the destruction of a relationship.

Negativity and a lack of self-confidence can become extremely toxic for someone that’s around you often

There’s always someone who’s going to be better looking and smarter than you. Not being able to accept that can cause insecurities to play on the mind. This results in jealousy, anger, self-hate, demotivation and irritability to yourself and others around you.

Sometimes, women don’t even realize that they’re doing it.

For example, if your husband pays you a compliment that you look amazing in that dress and you reply with,

‘No you’re lying, I gained too much weight.’

you’re actually demotivating him from paying you any compliments at all the next time. When your negativity clouds you, it leaves others around you feeling frustrated and unheard.

Practice self-love through whatever means suits you best.

Whether it’s going to a self-development class, going to the spa, getting your nails or hair done or even going out shopping for a new outfit.

Take charge of your life to build your self-confidence and love towards yourself. You can never depend on others for your happiness.

It’s not a turnoff, but it’s upsetting to me when a woman has lost her confidence. I genuinely think that all women are beautiful in a different way. We live in such a critical world, and for women the bar has been set high, but they should really just grab that bar and snap it. It doesn’t mean anything. – Alex Pettyfer

 7. Humility

I truly believe that no relationship can work without humility.

There’s never one person who’s always ‘right’ and the other ‘wrong’.

I’ll even go a step further and say that having humility is also a form of confidence.

It shows that you’re accepting of being able to make mistakes and are willing to learn from them.

If anything, men love women who have humility.  It even brings out respect for the person and it allows the man to feel like he has been heard.

Not being able to admit when you’re wrong is actually a sign of weakness and not strength.  Furthermore, if you’re always ‘right’ whenever there’s a discussion, it plays on the man’s confidence because they’re always put down if something goes wrong.

Lack of humility is unfortunately very common when it comes to the way women are in relationships.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. – C.S. Lewis

8. Friendly and Sociable

Don’t wait for people to be friendly – show them how.

Be the type of person you’d want to meet.

Men love women who know how to be friendly and social for whenever they go out together.  Be open to new people, get ready to talk and connect and be yourself instead of just sitting there attached to his arm.  Being friendly is also important because no man wants to be with a woman who he has to worry about giving attitude to his friends or family.

If you’re antisocial and not very talkative, it won’t give a very good impression and people are less likely to even want to be around you.

A study conducted in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that men were attracted to women who are nice and sweet.

Through experiments which monitored sexual interest and participants’ feeling on potentially long-term dating, calling it ‘responsiveness’. it further found that men who perceived female partners as nice and friendly found them to be “more feminine and more attractive”.

Past studies conducted suggests that this is due to friendliness and niceness being associated with higher estrogen levels.

A man wants to be proud to call you his partner when he sees that you’re able to make new friends and welcome them with warmth – they find hospitable women more feminine and attractive.

This also shows that you’re a team player towards him and that you have the ability to be family oriented.

Conclusion:

Men get commonly labeled as superficial at times because of the way their brains are wired – for example, that they care a lot about the way a woman looks and that they’re less emotionally attached as women, etcetera.

However, as mentioned before, men are surprisingly very simple people and what they truly look for in women is actually beyond just that.

There are many other factors that actually attract a good man, such as personality, dressing style, the way someone carries themselves, the feminine attitude and all the additional factors mentioned above are simple examples of what most strong men look for in women.

What do you guys think?

I know what it feels like when you’re trying to get an early morning but you can’t seem to break away from your bed’s gravitational pull.

What’s different between our mornings and successful people’s mornings?

The way you choose to start your day can set the tone for the rest of it According to psychology journals, morning people are more proactive and that having a regular morning routine can actually reduce stress and anxiety.

Here are surprising morning routines of successful women:

1. Exercise

I know the last thing on your mind as soon as you wake up would be to pull yourself out of bed, put on a pair of leggings and sports bra and start working out.

Research by University of Pittsburgh Medical Center claim that while some people feel extremely tired and slow when waking up, exercising can get you feeling more energetic because it gets your heart pumping faster.

Other benefits include giving your metabolism a big boost, a surge of dopamine that gets you in a better mood and the overall feeling of accomplishment.

Some examples of successful women that start their morning off by exercising are Michelle Obama (she wakes up as early as 4:30a.m!), Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Oprah!

2. Pursue Your Hobbies

Waking up early to make time for doing what you love can definitely boost your day.  Whether it’s a dance class, painting, practicing an instrument or a sport you play for fun.

Hobbies are actually a really good way to motivate you to get out of bed for someone who finds it hard to.

You’re definitely going to be more responsive to the alarm when you know you’re getting up to do something you love rather than rushing to go straight to work.  Hobbies can also help put you in a relaxing, peaceful mood and unwind rather than be in that ‘rush, rush, rush!’ state.

It helps you get re-centered and can also get your creative juices flowing!

A great example of a successful woman who kick starts her day by doing what she loves is Anna Wintour.

Yes, she’s the editor-in-chief for Vogue magazine but she also loves playing tennis.

Wintour starts her mornings off with a game at 5:45 in the morning before work!

3. Meditate

Maybe all the proactive activities don’t really work for you.  Not everyone’s a morning person – and I get that.

There’s other ways to set the tone for your day too, and one of the best ways is through meditation. When you wake up, take a few moments to structure your thinking.

You’d be surprised to know the life-altering effects meditation can have.

Some benefits include having a peace of mind, inducing determination and motivation for the day, organization, increased awareness and counteract stress.

Meditation definitely works for Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post.

SoulCycle Corporate interviewed Huffington about her success and asked about her daily meditation and ways to de-stress:

It begins the night before, with a good night’s sleep — which, for me, means 7 to 8 hours. And a big part of my morning ritual is about what I don’t do: when I wake up, I don’t start the day by looking at my smartphone. Instead, once I’m awake, I take a minute to breathe deeply, be grateful, and set my intention for the day. I also practice yoga most mornings. And I breathe! The connection that conscious breathing gives me is something I can return to hundreds of times during the day in an instant. A conscious focus on breathing helps me introduce pauses into my daily life, brings me back into the moment, and helps me transcend upsets and setbacks.

4. Dedicate Time to Loved Ones

In such a fast-paced world, we tend to be guilty of neglecting the ones dearest to our hearts at times.

There are a lot of things to do throughout the day and sometimes, there’s not much time.

This is another reason to rise early and spend time with your family and loved ones before you set off to conquer the day.

Spending just an hour having breakfast together and touching-base with each other can build a stronger connection.

Whether it’s your parents, your children, your husband or your wife, everyone should take time out to dedicate a part of the day towards close ones.

Take Gwyneth Paltrow as an example,

I wake up at 7 am, I get [the kids] fed, and I get them dressed in their uniforms, any bits of homework are finished. I take them to school. She [Apple] gets dropped off at 8:25 am, and he [Moses] gets dropped off at 8:45 am, so we have a croissant together in his school dining room and we do reading together. Then I go home and I work for one hour on all the emails that come in overnight from LA.

5. Eat the Frog

That doesn’t sound too appetizing. What ‘eat the frog’ actually means is that,

If the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long. – Mark Twain

Still don’t get it?

The philosophy essentially implies that when you get the most important tasks of the day out of the way.  This way you can get it out of the way as soon as possible and avoid procrastination.

If you can’t eat the frog, you can always go for the tadpoles first to build momentum.

Gloria Steinhem who is a NYC-based feminist icon manages to take the most important tasks head-on.

Steinhem claims that she usually “wakes up in a panic” because her whole life is pretty much organized around events and deadlines.

Her day starts off catching up with news in the bathroom, breakfast, heading off to get her morning latte and dealing with appointments and meetings for the rest of the day.

Conclusion:

Some of us don’t realize how important mornings truly are.

It’s okay if you don’t have a set routine yet, morning routines are different for everyone and can take a couple of trials to perfect.

You just have to find what’s the best way for you to wake up and be most efficient.

Successful people, in general, all manage to find the time for their family, passion, health and themselves throughout their day.

It’s just about how willing you are to organize your mornings in order to get the best out of yourself.

I guess it’s time to start setting your alarm an hour early.

“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.”

Language can shape our thinking.

Most linguistics claim that the languages you speak may play a role in shaping how you see or experience the world.

For example, if you speak French, you might be a bit more emotional.

Language has astounding power and the vocabulary that we use can affect and shape the experience of our feelings and emotions, positively or negatively.

According to Ludwig Wittgenstein,

“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”

1. “I Can’t”

It’s surprising how commonly people use the phrases, “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that”.  Saying you can’t do something is a sure way to ensure that you fail to achieve that task.

In the book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, the author tells a story about how his poor dad always said,

“I can’t afford it” while his rich dad always asked, “How can I afford it?”

Substituting negative statements with questions kick starts your brain to actually think, plan, learn, strategize and grow.

The smallest adjustments in your speech can change the way you view the world and unlock your potential to achieve and succeed more, making what you thought couldn’t be done, done.

2. “Maybe”

When you’re using the word “maybe”, it shows that you have little to no control over the situation.

When you replace “maybe” with a more doubtless word such as a “yes” or “no”, you’ll find that you will start feeling in control again from a linguistic point of view.

 3. “Actually” and “But”

According to Inc. by Christina DesMarais, the words “actually” and “but” can put space between you and the person you’re communicating with. For example,

“Actually, you can put it over there.”

“Sure thing, why don’t you put it over there?”

You can notice the difference between the two statements.  One implies that the person you’re talking to did something wrong.  The second one expresses the same idea in a more suggestive manner.

The word “but” can potentially make your statements more negative. For example,

“I appreciate your efforts, but unfortunately we don’t have this available.”

“I appreciate your efforts! Unfortunately, we don’t have this available.”

The subtle change in eliminating a word can make your message much more positive.

4. “Stuff/Things”

There are so many better ways when describing something. “Stuff” or “thing” is a very casual and generic word. It could be substituted with something better. There’s no detail or precision when using these two words. There is too much left unsaid.

Instead of using “stuff” or “thing”, try and be more precise. For example,

“Remember when we did that thing where…”

“Remember that night when we went to the pool and…”

It just adds more interest.

5. “Literally”

Sound expert Julian Treasure claims the way we speak and the words we use affect how we connect with people.

He claims there are 7 deadly sins of speaking, the 6^th of the 7 being exaggeration.

He mentions one example in his TED X talks about how misusing and being exaggerative with words can even be derogatory to language. For example,

“Penultimate…exaggeration. It demeans our language, actually, sometimes.  For example, if I see something that really is awesome, what do I call it?”

He further mentions how this exaggeration can be considered lying and “we don’t want to listen to people we know are lying to us.”

In summary,

The way you speak or write has a great deal of impact on whether or not the listener or reader is engaged in what you have to say.

Whether you’re writing for your CEO, finishing a thesis or marketing a product, using the right words can transform our reality.

“Stress is not necessarily a ‘bad’ thing.  Without this brilliant ability to feel stress, humankind wouldn’t have survived.”

Although I agree with them, maybe there could’ve been a better substitute for the word ‘brilliant’ because sometimes, stress can turn you into a walking, talking train wreck.

Stress is a combination of things, psychological pressures mixed with your body’s physical response to it and too much of it can have a very unhealthy effect on your body and your mental state.

Here are 5 ways in which you can handle stress like a superstar!

1. Identify the Source

There could be many different reasons for why people get stressed out and it’s usually situational.  Sometimes, stress can be temporary but other times, it can be something that’s been going on for a long time.  You need to watch out for major stressors because they can have a huge negative impact on your health overtime.  It helps a lot to be conscious of why certain things make you feel the way they do – and more than half the power to change that is in the awareness itself.  Think about if it’s your boss, your workplace or maybe toxic relationships that are holding you back.

Once you have identified what is causing you to become stressed, you can then go in with the intention of fixing it.  Knowledge truly is power and then you can decide what you want to do to tackle it and change it around.

2. Take Control!

Sometimes you have to live by Nike’s famous words, “Just Do It”.

Seriously, there’s no better way to deal with stress than to try and actively fix or at least help the situation at hand.  If it’s really bothering you and stressing you out, it’s definitely worth exploring your options on what you can do to take care of the situation and how you can make it better.  I’m not going to tell you to be reckless here, though.  If you do decide to go through with trying to find out how the problem can be better tackled, be level-headed, objective and more focused on the logical side of things.  For example, if you had a fallout with a friend, instead of going around being passive aggressive, try sitting them down and making sure that they understand your side of the story and also hear them out.

Identifying the problem and facing it head strong is sometimes one of the best things you could do.

3. Healthy Lifestyle

Having a healthy lifestyle helps a ton for when it comes to dealing with stress.

This includes eating properly throughout the day, laying off the junk food and actually taking time out to exercise!  The way you treat your body, your body treats you.  This is because the food you have can cause your body to react in ways that wouldn’t be ideal.  For example, if you drink tons of caffeine every morning, you’re more likely to heighten your anxiety.  Refined sugars, high sodium foods also tend to have the same effect.  If you’re someone that comfort eats, reconsider this as an option for stress reduction.

Be nice to it, and take care of yourself. In the long run, it’ll be worth it and you’re going to thank yourself.

4. Take a Break

Try to take a break from everything.

Learn that balance is important in life.  Some people take the edge of by working a lot but there’s a fair share of people who aren’t built this way.  If you’re not a workaholic and working too much just adds on to your stress, take time out to do the things that really help you de-stress.  Personally, one of the best ways for me to tackle stress is through traveling.  I love traveling and I find that getting away from the constant hustle and bustle of daily life every once in a while can truly change a lot around because it puts everything into perspective.

If you don’t really have the option to travel, try to take time off for your family and relationships.  Do things that you genuinely enjoy doing – recreation-wise.  Everyone is different in terms of what makes them unwind.  Some people get a massage, others take a couple of days off and some even need something as small as listening to music to change their mood around!

5. Acceptance for What Can’t Be Changed

Sometimes, certain things cannot necessarily be changed in life—and that’s okay.  One of the indicators of someone being a strong person is the ability to adapt to their environment and show resilience.  Life can be a lot of things, and difficult at times is definitely one of them.  Ultimately, no one’s perfect but it’s important to keep in mind that a good attitude and positive mind state can take you a long way, even for those times when you can’t necessarily control your situation.  Letting go of something that cannot be controlled is you started to accept the situation for what it is.  Essentially, this takes the power out from the situation and puts it back in your hands.

To Wrap it Up,

Handling stress is not something that’s easy and although there are many benefits to stress as a natural response in our bodies, too much can cause a lot of damage.  Throughout life, we all come across situations that really push our stress buttons and the pressure seems like it’s on!  Through these steps, you can start to learn the best way to manage your stress because at the end of the day, everyone handles stress differently.

Once you practice this enough, you’ll come to realize that it’s not as bad as what it might seem in our heads and that there is always a solution and a bigger picture.

Programming video games and messenger apps since a pre-teen, Zuckerberg always had a knack for coding and technology.

Today, he is one of the most influential people in the world by creating Facebook that has exceeded a market value of 500 Billion USD this year with 2.07 billion monthly active users.

Those are some pretty big numbers for making the world a smaller place.

Zuckerberg successfully revolutionized communication, from the way we share and connect with our friends and family halfway across the world, to the way we consume content.

It’s even affected the way we share our lives, how businesses interact with consumers and breached the barriers to politics.

What started off as a project and a hobby instantly grew to become a huge internet phenomenon.

I’m here to build something for the long term. Anything else is just a distraction.

Zuckerberg’s idea became a true reality. What made him successful?

Let’s talk about the 5 important life lessons I’ve learned from his story:

1. Use The ‘Hacker Way Approach’

The ‘Hacker Way Approach’ is a theory that suggests everything can be improved and nothing is set in stone. This is something that I strongly believe myself.

There’s always room for improvements and Mark Zuckerberg believes that ‘nothing is ever complete’.

According to an article on Wired:

Facebook was not originally created to be a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission — to make the world more open and connected.

Zuckerberg claims that ‘hacking’ as a word has been given a negative connotation.

It makes you think about people who break into computers to steal information or breach privacy.

However, that’s not the case at all.

He believes that a ‘hacker’ is someone who can,

Build something quickly and test the boundaries of what can be done.

It’s also a way through how something can be continuously improved upon and requires the ability to explore and think outside the box.

2. Think About the Impact

The question I ask myself like almost every day is, “Am I doing the most important thing I could be doing?

Another factor that contributed towards Zuckerberg’s immense success is having focus, vision and being able to create the biggest impact.

The tech-genius claims that although it sounds pretty simple, you’d be surprised at how many companies do it poorly which wastes a lot of time.

Time is one of the most important and valuable aspects of everyone’s life.  Everything great, takes time and patience to create.  This is one of the reasons for why everyone should be extremely picky about wasting their own and anyone else’s time as it’s something that we can never get back.

With that said, put time towards making the biggest impact you can.  Whether it’s in the workplace, starting your own business, launching a new product or making a difference in someone else’s life, be able to identify the most important problems to solve because that’s how you’ll make the biggest impact in society.

3. Pedal to the Medal

Zuckerberg believes that one should,

Move fast and break things. Unless you’re breaking stuff, you’re not moving fast enough.

This enables us to learn at a faster pace and build more, especially in our ever-growing and fast-paced markets.

You’ve got to be able to make decisions and be resilient in order to get ahead of the game.

As more businesses grow, they tend to slow down out of fear of taking the wrong risk.

This can cost you a lot of opportunities in the bigger picture.

If you’re someone who works to perfect everything, drop

4. The Biggest Risk is Not Taking Any Risks

So many businesses get worried about looking like they might make a mistake, they become afraid to take any risk. Companies are set up so that people judge each other on failure.

You have to be bold and you have to be fearless.

This is one of the core values on how Facebook is run.

You could have an amazing idea but waiting for the right execution may never come.

Sometimes, if the opportunity doesn’t present itself, you have to make the opportunity.

In a world changing so rapidly, not taking any risks can definitely leave you behind and contribute towards your failure.

For example, Facebook bought Oculous for 2 Billion USD.  Mark claims that if they had done a better job of building up some of the expertise to do that internally, then maybe they wouldn’t have to buy it.

However, since they didn’t, it just made sense to go and do that than have pride and not be willing to change anything.

“The riskiest thing is to not take any risks.”

Make calculated choices and take bold decisions even if it could turn out to be wrong at the time.

5. Have Value

Having a true purpose behind what you’re do is essential to building a successful business.

This goes hand-in-hand with what I previously mentioned about thinking about the impact and keeping a clear vision.

Building a real value for the world in everything you do is important to your growth and learning experience.

Being passionate about what you do and why you do it will accelerate your success.

Zuckerberg stands as an example by claiming:

My goal was never to just create a company. It was to build something that actually makes a really big change in the world.

In Conclusion,

Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life.

It’s undeniably impressive the way Zuckerberg has successfully managed to change the game of Internet-based social networking at such a young age.

The implications Facebook’s success are countless and impeccable, making him one of the world’s youngest billionaires.

Zuckerberg continues to be an inspiration to many around the world and has helped connect billions of people.

He keeps on growing and makes constant changes to an already multi-billion dollar company, which shows his drive for success is eternal and always improving.

Nowadays, women and men are becoming more similar to one another as time progresses.

There’s a much more of an equal relationship between the two genders today. Women, specifically, are starting to act and feel more like men.

There are obvious changes between women from 100 years ago to women in the present if we look at everything from a big picture.

Here are 5 undeniable signs that women are becoming more masculine in our current society:

1. Increased Presence in the Workforce

According to Center of American Progress, women take up almost half percentage of the workforce (with 47% being women and 53% being men).

If we take a step back and look at men and women’s evolutionary past, women were the ones who stayed home and gathered food while men went out to ‘hunt’ and because of this men adopted the role of the primary bread winner.

In the present, this trend is now almost reversing as even married women now participate in the paid workforce.

Beyond just the workforce, according to the Daily Mail in 2016,

The U.S. Army just approved their first 22 women to be,ground combat officers after new rules open all military jobs to women – including fighting on the front line.

Due to women’s increased participation in the workforce and in other areas which was male-dominated at first, it brings out ‘male’ attributes such as determination, ambition, motivation and the need to survive.

2. Increased Aggression

Aggression is a trait that contributes towards violent criminal behavior.  According to Forbes, there’s a drastic increase in the number of women in the past two decades’ war on drugs.

Currently, there are more than 1 million women behind bars in the U.S. and rising. Even more shockingly, prison population of women is actually growing faster than men.

Research in psychology shows that women have become more increasingly involved in committing violent crimes than in the past.

For example, now a lot of drug cartels are lead by women and is on the rise. Surprisingly, according to Psychology Today,

The proportion of women in the U.S. correctional system doubled between 1985 and 1988.

Testosterone is the main hormone that is on average linked to more physical aggression in many species and is now showing it in the modern woman.

3. Delayed Marriage and Increased Interest in Casual Relationships

Studies revealed that women are getting married at a later age today than they did in the past.

This goes to show that there could possibly be a loss in interest for when it comes to starting a family and having children as compared to before.

Advancements in science has also made it easier for women to pursue and be successful in their careers through technologies that help them freeze their eggs or other means of fertilization at a later age.

Statistics show that there’s a dramatic increase in the average age at which Americans first marry, from their early 20’s to their late 20’s in just 30 years.

Could this increase in the future?

4. Increase in Female Athletes

There are physiological reasons for why women haven’t competed in sports in the past as much as men.

That’s because women’s bodies are designed in a way where they need to work twice as hard as men in order to be as strong or exude the same results.

Sport was mainly associated with masculine behavior due to this, as well.

Also, the 2012 Olympic championships in London was the very first one in history where there were female athletes competing from each and every country involved.

In 2016, there were more women athletes competing in the Olympics in Rio than in any other Olympics, in history.  There has been a huge increase in the percentage of female athletes in the Olympics from 1900-2016 from 2.2% to 45%, respectively, according to Vox.

I think it’s time to stop using the term, ‘you throw like a girl’.

5. Increase in Single Parenthood

With an increase in the divorce rate and single parenthood coming into the picture, a lot of single mothers are under pressure to take care of her children, without a father.

According to The Atlantic,

Single parents have more than tripled as a share of American households since 1960. It’s a huge problem without an easy explanation.

That’s an alarmingly significant increase and change in just the last almost 6 decades (which is roughly an average person’s lifespan).

One of the reasons for why single motherhood makes women more masculine is because since they’re the primary bread-winners, it increases testosterone increasing strength, stamina and competitiveness.

Moreover, in cases where the father is not present, it means that she has to take the role of being both, gentle and nurturing as well as the role of a strong disciplinarian.

What Does It All Mean?

It shouldn’t go unnoticed that women portray masculine attributes in some societies more than others, especially the modern woman.

However, I believe that this doesn’t mean that women are incapable of being feminine.

It pretty much still means that majority of women still want a man to be able to take charge in the relationship so that she can relax and be more free in her femininity.

For example, when I used to work in finance, I had my hair tied up and on some days, I’d wear pant-suits, however, as soon as I’d be off from work, I’d let my hair down and change into a dress.

Femininity may not necessarily equal staying at home, being a housewife and baking cookies. It could be portrayed in the way you speak, the way you dress and the way you carry yourself.

A lot of women who are feminine by nature tend to lose that touch with themselves in order to be more successful in the workforce.

That’s understandable, as sometimes, you have to be assertive and have certain degree of professionalism, which is associated with ‘male’ qualities in order to be successful, for example, if you’re a manager and you have to be authoritative.

However, it’s possible to be conscious about when it’s required and when it’s not.  I’m sure you’re not required to be assertive and dominant like a manager when you’re at home with your husband or when you go out on a date.

Women can be empowered, independent, ambitious and successful while all the while being feminine.

What do you girls think? Leave me your thoughts.

Addiction? Me?

Yes, you.

You’ve got a smartphone, right?

And you probably never thought you would actually be addicted to it but think about when you get that surge of anxiety or that irresistible curiosity the longer you stay away from it.

The dictionary definition of addiction is: The compulsive physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal.

Can you go a day without it?

There are some pretty scary statistics out there about smartphone usage. According to the Daily Infographic:

The average person checks their cellphone 110 times a day.

12% of adults use their smartphones in the shower while 40% check their cellphones on the toilet.

56% of users check their smartphones before sleep and 75% check it after sleep.

61% sleep with their smartphones under their pillow or next to their bed.

77% of parents and teens have argued about smartphone usage.

26% of car accidents are caused by smartphone usage.

50% of people feel uneasy when they leave their smartphone at home and,

50% of teens admit they’re addicted to their smartphones.

Shocked yet?

According to Time, plenty of research has shown how smartphones have started affecting our relationships.

Although it can be argued that there are positive influences such as staying in touch with the ones you love, there’s also a darker side to it.  Nowadays, real-life relationships and interactions are dulled out when a person feels the need to check their phone and it can cause distractions that you won’t even notice are silently demolishing our relationships.

Here are 4 ways our smartphones affect our relationships:

1. It Creates a Lack of Communication

Compulsively carrying your phone around wherever you go can break down communication barriers even between the most devoted couples and friends.

Communication is often more on the phone than in person in some relationships as well. You might think for a second, but hey, isn’t that still communication?

The truth is that it takes you away from reality.

When was the last time you actually had a deep conversation with someone close to you?

Make it a habit to put your phone on silent or away when you’re spending time with your friends, family or spouse.  Communicate how to reach you in emergencies before hand.  In my group of friends, whenever we go out, we put all our phones on the table in front of us and on silent. The first person to grab their phone and use it ends up paying the bill.

This is just one example of the different ways through which you can re-train yourself to stop excessively using your smartphone.

Texting is a brilliant way to miscommunicate how you feel and misinterpret what other people mean.

2. It Creates a Lack of Mindfulness

You can’t  be alert and focused on your surroundings when you’re continuously distracted by the buzzing of your smartphone.  Whether or not you actually open the social media notification, reply to a text message or answer a phone call, you’re still going to be wondering who reached out to you and why.

We live in a world that runs on immediate gratification – we have become so used to living in a fast-paced society where we can get anything at the tips of our fingers that not checking our smartphones as soon as it alerts us requires re-training.

I’ve seen mothers sitting with their children distracted by their smartphones when their son/daughter is trying to interact with them.

It’s even become normal for us to pay a good amount of money to concerts or shows just to watch it through the screens of our phones.

How many special moments have you let pass by without giving them a second glance?

A lack of mindfulness can cost you a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so next time, try to put the phone away and actually indulge in the moment.

The best times are actually those that aren’t documented.

3. It Takes Us Away From Reality

On many occasions, the way we might interact online can actually start defining how we are in real life.  For example, ever heard someone say the word “LOL” out loud instead of actually laughing?  Real people in real bodies in real time are different than someone online.

The way we text and communicate online sometimes merges with our real-life selves which can be quite scary – because we lose touch with our social self.

Others also use it as a self-defense tool.  For example, the preference of having serious one-on-one conversations over the phone or through text just to avoid any uncomfortable confrontations in person is getting common.

This can deteriorate your confidence and people skills.

Some people aren’t really all what they post to be in real life as what they portray behind the screen.

Read my recent article on ‘Why You Can’t Believe Everything You See on Social Media’.

4. We Become Irresponsible with Our Words

As mentioned before, it’s easy to be anyone when you’re hiding behind the screen and because of this, we become careless when it comes to the way we talk in reality.

The Internet is a harsh place and sometimes people are quick to judge others and make inconsiderate bold statements.  That’s what happens when you expose your pictures and life to millions of people you don’t know and probably won’t ever meet in real life.

It definitely affects the way we see others in real life, as well. When you become so used to hiding behind social media and the screens of your devices we become immune to the realization that we’re actually dealing with human beings who have emotions the same as ours.

Each interaction has an influence and our smartphones have definitely lead us to becoming more irresponsible when it comes to the way we use our words.

Always think before you post.

Take a couple of seconds to reflect on what it is that you want to post and how it can potentially affect others as well as yourself, also refrain from posting or publishing content that could potentially damage yours or anyone else’s reputation.

Read my recent article on ‘The Biggest Risk Could Be You’.

Conclusion:

We live in the Digital Age where we are surrounded by global economies that rely heavily on technology to bring about convenience and efficiency into our lives.

We can have endless debates and discussions on how beneficial and important it is for our growth and society.

When used wisely, your smartphone can no doubt enhance your life but if not – let’s not deny the fact that it’s also growing into a dangerous addiction and affection our real life relationships.

Forbes came out with a list titled ‘America’s Highest-Paid Reality Stars‘ of 2016 and it mentions 7 people, who altogether earned $133 million USD.

And guess what, out of those, 6 of those people are the Kardashian/Jenner family and they’re responsible for $122.5 million USD.

Given what we’ve been witnessing from Kim Kardashian for the last couple of years and her insuppressible hunger for publicity you will either love her or hate her, she’s an empire and her business ability should be noted.

Here are 6 things we can all learn from Kim Kardashian West:

1. Own it!

Don’t take things too seriously.

Yes, sometimes, KKW can be a hot mess with the things headlines say about her, but with the number of people stalking her every move, I don’t think anyone can be perfect in the limelight 24/7.

To be able to cut out the negativity to carry on being who you are with confidence is something we could all take notes on.

According to an interview at the BlogHer16 event,

I used to care about all of the comments. I would go out at night, I would come home and I’d look on the computer and see what they were writing and see what they were saying. I think as you get older, I mean, you just mature. I still don’t think everyone really has a thick skin.” Kim goes on to say “I think if you do something, because you genuinely like it, no matter what it is, you shouldn’t look for a reaction to validate you. You can look at the reaction for fun or if you’re interested, for validation I don’t do that, so I don’t really get hurt by the comments.

In the end, no matter what you do, whether it’s you’re business, brand or even just as a person, you’re always going to have haters.

My mentor once taught me the 1/3^rd rule.

The rule implies that 33.3% of people are always going to hate you no matter what you do.

The other 33.3% are going to love you.

The last 33.3% are going to be indifferent towards you. It’s all about where and who you choose to focus your energy on because seeking validation from anyone other than yourself is going to dwindle your confidence and drive.

2. Family is the best support system

If you’ve been Keeping Up With the Kardashians, you’ll notice that past the numerous scandals and meltdowns, the show never failed to highlight the love and strong support that they have for one another.

In moments of struggles and public scrutiny, they were each other’s best support system.

Take it from the Klan; the love of our own family is incomparable and unbreakable.

The common adage ‘don’t mix family and business‘ ironically enough doesn’t apply to the Kardashians.

In an article by Entrepreneur Middle East, there are actually a lot of positives that can come out of having a family business such as the importance of trust, shared visions and expectations, keeping pace, values, and nurture.

Another great example of a successful family business is the Kattans.  Hudabeauty flourished in recent years and they employ a staff of 22.  Alya is the social media expert, Mona heads strategy and of course, Huda is the face and the creative head of the company.

Think about how you can involve your family to build a name to benefit your brand or business, and about what you can do for them in return.

Not only does it allow you to share knowledge, it can open up opportunities, widens your support system and brings about new ideas. Leverage your network!

 3. Marketing is everything

Social media has impacted how we communicate in our society in such a huge way, KKW is not afraid to innovate and make use of it.

With millions of followers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, Kim can instantly access, engage and reach her audience with just one post, and she does it consistently.

KKW is constantly advertising and marketing her brand, her image, and her products.  With that many followers, comments, likes, and views, she manages to make her brand insanely popular and sought-after.

Whether you follow her or not, she’s going to pop up on your news feed!

According to People, Kardashian is also known for her ability to create ‘unparalleled success online‘, and has received the very first ‘Break the Internet’ awards by Webby Awards in 2016.

She has the ability and talent to use the Internet to generate a buzz to grab peoples attention.

There’s a number of ways in which KKW has ‘broken the Internet’, for example, when she posed naked for Paper Magazine.

Through her unique marketing strategies, Kardashian continues to earn success on everything she puts her hands on and shows that any publicity, is good publicity if you’re willing to take a chance and bare the consequences that may come with it.

This allows her to stay relevant in today’s world, which is another important marketing technique that all business owners and brands can learn from.

4. Stay relevant

Staying relevant is very important in our ever-changing environment.

Another way the business-savvy A-lister stays popular with a continuous growing following is through staying up-to-date with all the latest trends and fashions.

According to Bill Svoboda,

You don’t need to advertise a good party; a good party advertises itself. That’s what it looks like to be relevant.

Kardashian-West has always managed to stay relevant through her reality TV show since 2007. She boosted her popularity and got noticed more by always mingling with famous people. Other things that caught public attention was filming an explicit tape, posing fully nude, marrying someone for only 72 days, etc.

Another way through which KKW stays relevant is by changing up her style frequently and dramatically.  She does this quite often—one day she’ll post a selfie of her brunette, the next she would go platinum blonde.

She also tries to change up her style by making risky fashion choices or maybe even going to high-end events with a bare face. KKW is continuously switching it up—and people notice, which makes her stay relevant in today’s media.

5. Take risks

The higher the risk, the bigger the return.

KKW is not afraid of opportunities and exposure.

She’s successfully earned millions of dollars year after year and has been considered Time’s most influential people in 2014. A successful entrepreneur, who earns from endorsements—all essentially stemming from an explicit video and from then onwards, how she took risk after risk reinventing herself like any smart entrepreneur.

An example of this is how she took a chance in an industry that no one expected her to set foot in the technology industry.

This was through her app ‘Kim Kardashian: Hollywood’ which generated a whopping $71.8 million USD, and she takes home 40% of it, according to Cosmopolitan.

People that are willing to take risks, tend to get further in business and in life.

According to Inc.,

Risk takers climb the company ladder faster and make more money.

Jason Hanold, who is a CEO of the executive search firm Hanold Associates claims, that when you take a risk, you open avenues of opportunities for accelerated learning and compensation in comparison to someone who finds comfort in their position which creates stagnation.

We tend to underestimate our abilities to handle the consequences of risk, over-estimate the probability of something going wrong so sit back and think to yourself if you really want to ignore the cost of inaction.

The next time you see an opportunity that can pave the way to more probabilities of growth, take them.  For example, try and rise to the occasion and volunteer to take lead on that project, trust that employee or start that company you’ve been wanting to!

6. Collaboration and having a great team

Collaboration is also another technique through which KKW climbed to the top.

From when she first started off as Paris Hilton’s personal stylist, girlfriend to Ray J, to having her own reality TV show, Kardashian-West has always had been collaborating to build her brand image from day one.

This year, Kardashian-West has collaborated with almost every up-and-coming or well-known makeup artist in videos and through posts for the launch of KKW Beauty.

This creates an association of certain people and public figures with the brand, which is another smart tactic when building your brand image.

As an effect, according to Forbes, her products were sold out within two hours of being launched. That’s $14.4 million all before 3 pm.

Another example of how crucial the right support could be is how Kardashian’s makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic rose to success through the right exposure.

According to Bob Mudge, president of Consumer and Mass Business at Verizon,

Collaboration is no longer just a strategy: it is the key to long-term business success and competitiveness. Businesses that realize this sooner rather than later will be the ones who win the game and succeed in the new global economy.

Essentially, it’s important to understand that having a great team behind you who you trust and can gain support from for your cause or purpose is only going to be a strength whether you’re just starting out or have been a well-established brand for many years.

To bring it all together, KKW has mastered the art of marketing genius—and okay, maybe it’s not the same genius as when Albert Einstein comes to mind (unless we’re talking about her gravity-defying…facelifts), but a genius none-the-less.

So, let’s hold back our scowls and trendy opinions on the countless reasons for why we should hate her and learn a thing or two about how to be successful in our own brand or business.

Take it from the Kardashian-Jenner Klan; they are living proof that you’re not defined by your name, where you come from, your degree or even your past.

It’s about how hard you’re willing to learn, work and grow in all aspects of life be it business or as an individual (in the words of KKW), bible!

Every individual has a unique style and clothing is one of the biggest ways to express it.

The way we dress can influence their position or authority in the workplace.

Power dressing is a phenomenon that came about in the 1920s and started with the Chanel suit.

The suit was a representation of a turning point of the way women dressed as it had masculine elements in it that gave women an authoritative appearance in order to be accepted as equals in the professional world.

In other words – the way you dress can have a huge impact on the kind of message you want to send across.

Power dressing is extremely important with incredible positive influence that many look past.

Here are 6 solid reasons for why power dressing is an essential in the workplace:

1. You Make Your First Impression Count

According to research, you have around 7 seconds to make a first impression.

I know – crazy.

As soon as you walk in a room full of people you don’t know, they can make a judgment about you before you even get to say anything!

The time they spend after the first 7 seconds will be about validating that judgment. People have little to no control over first impressions because they are involuntarily driven by their subconscious to notice small details fast.

It’s up to you how you come across and whether or not you want to make that first impression count.

The way you dress and carry yourself will speak volumes about the kind of person you are and if whether or not others want to associate themselves with you.

Regardless of whatever job you’re entering – whether it’s entry level or CEO, you need to make an impact.

2. You Gain Respect

Notice what all people in power have in common: their way of dressing.

Whether it’s a celebrity, an influencer, a manager or a CEO, they all carry a unique style that shows their position of authority.

Power dressing can have a major impact on your career and as mentioned before, it allows people to see the best version of yourself.

In order to gain respect from your fellow colleagues or your audience, you need to ask yourself if what you’re wearing shows whether or not others can take you seriously.

Yes, there are exceptions – for example, how Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates.

However, their success and achievements speaks for itself.  Be conscious of the way you want to present and portray yourself. Be weary of your surroundings and understand what you can and cannot get away with.

If you’re working in the corporate world, you should be avoiding anything low-cut or mini like the plague.

If you’re presenting, make sure you’re dressed in a way that is appropriate for the mass audience.  Always be conscious of your surroundings and who’s watching.

3. You’re Prepared

Dressing well at work keeps you prepared for any unexpected meetings or important people you may run into.  Imagined you’re dressed sloppy and that’s the day you get called in for an important meeting with your boss – it’s never a good impression.

The way you dress is important for your appearance and to keep up with.

You never know the opportunities that you might miss by putting an end to your chances before things even start.

Don’t get me wrong – being uncomfortable is important.  Wear clothes that you don’t have to keep on fixing every two minutes, that won’t distract you or that aren’t too tight in order to maintain being well dressed and comfortable at the same time.

Some ways to keep prepared is by bringing an extra pair of heels and keeping them at the office or having a blazer on stand-by.

4. If You Look Good, You Will Feel Good

It’s incredible how much influence the clothes we wear have on us. Ever heard the saying,“if you look good, you’ll feel good”?

Even though a lot of people don’t believe it to be true, research has come out and shown that the clothes we wear, do in fact have an effect on our confidence, mood, attitudes and overall social behavior – which defines your body language.

When you look the part, you’re more likely to be the part.

Just think about the difference in your confidence if you put on some sweats and a pajama top compared to if you wear a well-tailored work dress in a board meeting.

Yes – you’re still the same person, you can express the same ideas and have the same knowledge but you’re definitely going to feel more confident in the latter attire.

There has been a lot of scientific research that backs up this psychology, in one by Peluchette and Karl on ‘The Impact of Workplace Attire on Employee Self-Perceptions’; it was found that participants felt most trustworthy, competent and authoritative when wearing business attire.

5. You Break Stereotypes

A lot of women have reported that they don’t feel heard or taken seriously in the workplace. This is usually because of many factors.

Certain women still feel discriminated against in some fields of work. Power dressing is a way to break through the stereotypes and to let your voice be heard.

It shows that you’re there to be taken seriously and respected.

Although this doesn’t mean that everything will change overnight, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

6. You Express Your Personality

Today’s power dresser isn’t afraid to express their personality through their clothes!

Gone are the days where there was a formulaic way of dressing for the workplace – just because you’re dressed formal doesn’t mean it has to be boring.

The clothes you wear can always express your nature in a certain way – you just have to find what compliments you.

Wearing something that can give you a distinct look can actually work in your favor.  Everyone has a ‘trade-mark’ – and that’s what makes them special.

A little creativity doesn’t hurt and can help you stand out from the crowd and appear more as an individual.  Showing your individuality is also an expression of power when done right and subtly. You can do this with your earrings, heels, your handbag or accessories.

However, avoid going overboard because you don’t want to look too distracting.

To Bring it Together,

Every individual has a unique style and the way they power dress can influence their position or authority in the workplace.

Put in the effort and embrace power dressing whether it’s for a special meeting, a quick lunch with your coworkers or when going in for a new job interview.

In the past when it came to the business world, job titles were pretty simple and straight-forward.

You were either “the boss” or not.

Today, with the workplace continuously evolving and advancing, some people have been given much more fancier-sounding titles.

For example, what the heck is a “Dean of Pizza” or “Waste Management and Disposal Technician” (Bin Man)

But does it even mean anything?

I thought about it and came up with 4 reasons why your job title actually doesn’t mean anything

1. When it’s misleading

Nowadays, the job title is given out like candy but what does it really mean?

Consider the title ‘Manager’

A manager is someone who typically leads a team.  If you’re just managing one other person, yourself included, then your job title can be really misleading to someone who in charge of 15 people.

When you’re getting recruited for a potential job, you don’t want to mislead your employer – it builds expectations, makes you look more qualified than you are and is just a disaster waiting to happen.

When your employer sees that you don’t have a great amount of experience after you’re hired, it’s going to make a bad impression on you and you don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.

Similarly, other titles that are over-used and stripped of their true meaning are usually titles that include: consultant, director, analyst and engineer.

2. When you didn’t Earn it

Usually, the title that you’re given has to be earned and reflect on the skills you have.  Maybe you just started out and you’ve already been given an overly inflated job title.  Employers usually do this to make up for a low salary.

Although it might make you feel important, as mentioned in the point above it could be highly misleading for the next job you may be aspiring for.

Similarly to the previous example, the interviewer would be under the impression that you have the skills to perform all tasks under the title you claim and in reality, you possess no experience.

Maybe your employer gave you that title to compensate for the fact that they can’t give you a raise.  Maybe they gave you that title to ensure that you feel a little sense of importance.

There are various reasons for why employers give out job titles like candy on Halloween. if you’re planning on changing jobs, it would then be a conversation worth discussing.

3. When it’s limiting

Some job titles can be quite limiting to your abilities.

Maybe you have the skill sets to do so much more than what your title says and that can even affect your recruitment campaigns if you want to apply to a new company.

According to the Harvard Business Review, limiting titles can be deadly for when it comes to career progression.

The article mentions that employers need to stop waiting for the ‘perfect’ candidate and instead start creating one by training a quality applicant that has potential.

Some job titles can be limited to the point where employers would think twice about you for something even slightly outside that field. HBR also addresses the thought,

If you can only get a job by having that job, how can you move forward? It’s a paradox that companies can help fix.

4. When it undermines your capabilities

Maybe your job titles describe you as a “Junior Associate” of some sort, but you’re actually doing everything from the contribution towards managing the teams’ involvement in big projects and have a say in other company-related matters.

In instances like these, your job title can actually undermine your capabilities and it doesn’t do you justice!

Have a conversation with your boss about giving you a more appropriate title so that your skills set are more acknowledged.  Or, next time you go for another job interview, make sure you mention all the skill sets that you do have and how you’ve got more experience under your belt than just what your title says about you.

In essence,

In essence, job titles mean nothing if they are like any of the things mentioned above.

But yes, a cool title can sound great, but does it truly have any substance?

Even with that title, you’ll realize that your job and your salary remain unchanged.

Sometimes, employers may give out fancy titles to employees when money’s tight and salaries cannot be raised.

It’s okay to care about your title, but sometimes, it truly doesn’t define you or your skills completely.

Keep things fun and keep going – this is just one of the many simple, yet powerful ideas, that I personally learned from Richard Branson himself.  Imagine, for a man who is in his 60s and very accomplished, Branson still says that he doesn’t want to retire and that there’s still so much for him to do – he’s still happy to work, travel, and explore.

I’ve met and interviewed Branson on a number of occasions and all I can say is that this mega-entrepreneur man is always quirky, never boring, beyond inspiring, and limitless!

I learned so much from him and realized a lot, especially when it comes to managing my business and team.  So here are a few success tips from Branson that I’ve adopted:

1. Hire people that bring skills you don’t have 

 

I surround myself with people who have knowledge and talents in areas where I might not be so well versed.

One of the smartest things you can do for your business is hiring people who can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

For example, digital marketing and SEO are vital elements for client acquisition in my business. Since those areas require a specific skill set to handle such tech, I would hire digital-savvy people to specifically look into the optimization of our online efforts to ensure and generate higher rankings and traffic towards my business.

From a business owners perspective, you can’t be perfect.

A lot of people possess transferable skills that you as an owner could implement. So looking for those individuals who can fill in those gaps could be a great asset to the growth of your business.

Think about the potential problems you could come across in some of the areas in your business and recruit someone with the capability of abrogating those issues in order to make the necessary improvements. Your Business will definitely benefit from having people with diverse skills and ideas that will not challenge and develop the company but will also contribute to its building foundation in the future.

will definitely help build and develop your company

Your business will definitely benefit from having diverse people with diverse skills and ideas to challenge and develop the company into the future.

2. Make business fun 

If you’re spending most of your life at work, it should not be a chore, it should be fun.

‘Dedication to fun’ is one of Branson’s philosophies that successfully cultivated the brand image and culture of the multinational corporation venture capital, ‘Virgin Group’.  One of Branson’s recommendations is breaking down barriers in your business’ corporate hierarchy through team-building, marathons, events, parties, and other initiatives that will enhance social connections that will help in maintaining a comfortable vibe and atmosphere for the team to brainstorm and share ideas openly.

Every week, you spend more time with your colleagues than your family – which means, the office almost becomes your second home.  If the work environment is not fun and running on a cut-throat culture – not to mention the pressures, KPIs to be met, and frustrations from clients – would you be excited to come to work? Would you be creative and productive?

It will surely be depressing for you.

Create a culture where your team members would love to work and allow them to laugh. In my office, I always encourage my team members to play music, brainstorm over chocolate croissants and cheese sticks (because that’s what I love to eat), doodle on the whiteboard, engage in various activities/games during our sales meeting, capture their office moments and post on social media, laugh over crazy ideas, and so on – things that I know will trigger their creativity and positive energies.

When I see my team members enjoying what they do, it makes me proud, happy, and excited to work with them every day.

3. Marketing is key 

You can create business, choose a name, but unless people know about it, you’re not going to sell any products.

Imagine this – you can always have the best product in the world and spend so much time crafting the packaging and yet, no one would know or hear about it. If that’s the case,  your product isn’t going anywhere.  How you invest in marketing your product is so crucial, that’s why you should never take it for granted.

Just like Branson, I too believe in the power of marketing – especially, inbound marketing. Businesses could take advantage of marketing trends and venues to be ahead of the game. Some of these trends are; social media, live-streaming and influencer marketing that are growing rapidly in this continuously evolving world we live in today.

Having the craziest ideas and right strategies are the simplest way to draw attention to your business.Don’t think what’s the cheapest way to do it, the fanciest way to do it, or the fastest way to do it. You want people to remember your brand. You need to execute that WOW factor into your product and brand.

4. Your team is everything! 

Treat your team like family.

Making your team a top priority can bring benefits for both your customers and investors. As to how Branson further explains it,

It should go without saying, if the person who works at your company is 100% proud of the brand and you’ve given them the tools to do a good job and they are treated well, they’re going to be happy. Effectively, in the end, shareholders do well, the customers do better, and your staff remains happy.

The success of your business relies on your entire team.  When you care for and treat your team like family, your team will make the effort to go that extra mile and in turn becomes more productive. Additionally, you will establish mutual trust and respect whilst ensuring that the interest of the business is looked after.

5. Diversify

You should never be afraid to diversify if you are in a position to do so because nothing stays ever exactly the same.

Richard Branson is the prime example of a diversified success.  With the first launching of his first business, ‘The Student Magazine’ in the 1960s, to the launching of ‘Virgin Records’ and other ventures under the Virgin brand, Branson is a proof that implementing diversification as a business strategy really does work.

Don’t put your eggs in one basket.

As for me, I’m able to diversify by venturing into complementary businesses (example: an agency that supply MCs or hosts and an academy that teaches individuals or management professionals how to be good at public speaking), as well as in e-learning and e-commerce.

As an individual, you can also diversify by investing your savings in properties or small businesses.  Diversifying is good because if you lose one thing, you don’t lose everything.

6. Attitude and perspective is everything

Stay positive; attitude is everything.

I think, one of the most vital steps you can take towards achieving your greatest potential in life is learning how to monitor your attitude and how it impacts yourself, what you do, and the people around you.

Attitude and perspective are like the foundation and backbone behind personal success.  There will be tough times.  Things may not work in your favor.  Business may not be progressing as expected.  Projects may not be coming to actuality. But whatever happens, stay optimistic, stay focused, and stay enthusiastic.  It’s attitude and perspective that make tough times manageable.

Also, adopt an attitude of gratitude.  When you start the gratitude practice, not only you tend to exude and share that positive energy but also you’ll see that all of a sudden things start to fall into place for you and your business.

7. Perfection is unattainable

There’s an inherent danger in letting people think that they have perfected something. When they believe they’ve ‘nailed it’, most people tend to sit back and rest on their laurels while countless others will be laboring furiously to better their work.

Branson has the right attitude when it comes to perfection, and this point made is a truly genius one.  Many people think that once they believe they’ve perfected something, they can sit back and relax.  Whilst you’re slacking, others are working very hard and they will soon surpass you if you just lay back and let them.

So, I think it’s OK to never give anyone a 100% perfect review of their work.  I believe that no matter how brilliantly conceived something is, there is always room for improvement.

8. Be a leader, not a boss

Perhaps, therefore, it is odd that if there is any one phrase that is guaranteed to set me off it’s when someone says to me,

‘Okay, fine. You’re the boss!’

What irks me is that in 90 percent of such instances what that person is really saying is,

‘Okay, then, I don’t agree with you but I’ll roll over and do it because you’re telling me to. But if it doesn’t work out I’ll be the first to remind everyone that it wasn’t my idea.’

Admit it – at one point when you started your business, you’re so excited to be a “boss” and look into leading and managing people.  But, it takes more than just bossing people around to be a leader.

While a leader can be a boss, not every boss can be a leader.  Although leaders and bosses have nearly identical definitions, in effect, they are different in substance and approach.  As such, a leader motivates than terrify; a leader listens and speaks rather than command.

Each week, I sit down with my team and discuss their accomplishments and backlogs from the previous week.  I always take this opportunity to redirect their focus to their weekly goals and objectives, to help them practice self-awareness and gauge their performance on their own, and to motivate them to become more.  Knowing that I’m leading my team towards the right direction, that in itself is an achievement for me.

I hope that you’ll apply these simple yet very powerful ideas to your life and business.  Once you did, feel free to share with me the significant effects and changes that you’ve experienced.  I’d be delighted to read them!

Let’s keep things fun and keep going,

Shereen

Did you know that the moment you meet someone new, they’ve already made an impression about you?  It just takes one tenth of a second.  Everyone judges, consciously or subconsciously – it’s human nature and uncontrollable.  It’s just the way our minds work.

I’ll give you some time to take that in.

Done?

I’m sure you realized the extreme importance of making a lasting and killer first impression and I’m going to show you 5 of ways how:

1. Dress to Impress

Take the time to put in thought and effort into your dressing.  Make sure your clothes are ironed and clean because you think we don’t notice – but we do.  More so, be aware and appropriate of how you’re dressing and for what.  For example, if you’re going into a business meeting, don’t wear short skirts that rise above the knee or wear a shirt that could potentially be showing your cleavage.

It’s not a good look.

Be appropriate and conscious of the message you want to send out to your boss and coworkers.

The colors you have different psychological effects on how other people perceive you too.  For example wearing red expresses power, black represents formal and blue shows that you’re a team player.

Check out my article here on power dressing.

2. Show Confidence

This doesn’t mean be arrogant or egoistic because that can switch people off quicker than you think.

It means be confident in the sense where you’re comfortable in your skin.

Show other people that you’re not nervous and that you’re perfectly content with yourself in the current situation.  It makes you look more approachable and reliable as well, it exudes responsible traits and in return.

If you’re not a very confident person, being conscious of all these things will psychologically start making you actually feel it.

A great way to show confidence is through smiling. Smiling is welcoming, makes the other person feel comfortable and portrays you as someone who is trustworthy.

I’ve recently written an article on the power of a smile and it’s incredible the effects that it can have on someone.

3. Be Conscious About Your Body Language

Similarly to confidence, make sure you’re conscious of your body posture as it speaks for itself.  The way you walk and hold your back can show confidence and gives off an authoritative vibe to others.

One example of this is keeping your shoulders square when you’re talking to someone new which makes you look natural and relaxed.

Avoid fidgeting as it shows that you’re either nervous or intimidated which will subconsciously and naturally give the other person a feel of power over you.

Another important aspect to remember is to keep eye contact when you’re talking to someone.  Be conscious about if you’re focused on the other person and what they’re saying but at the same time don’t make it look like you’re staring.

Match your eye contact with your overall facial expression.

4. Have the Perfect Handshake

Your handshake can say it all.

A lot of people aren’t conscious about their handshake but it’s surprisingly important aspect of making a first impression.

You may think that because it’s subtle it has little effect but in reality and psychologically, having a firm handshake shows strong character and portrays strength enhancing positive feelings in the other person.

According to Dr. Douglas Fields in an article called ‘The Power of a Handshake’, non-verbal and physical touch allows our mind to tap into the other person’s mind,

This communication through touch and body language conveys vital information through a rich unconscious and universal language that transcends spoken language.

Take politicians as an example, they exude power and all their campaigns and meetings start and end with a strong handshake.

5. Be Culturally Aware

Let’s take it a step further. In our globalized world today, we have the privilege of meeting people from all around the world.  It’s important to educate ourselves in being aware of other people’s traditions and cultures.

First impressions can differ greatly based on who you’re meeting.  Furthermore, when you’re culturally aware, the other person highly appreciates the fact that you took the time to actually familiarize yourself with their traditions – and that leaves a great impression.

Some examples of this is how in the West, a strong handshake symbolizes strength and authority while in some African cultures, a weaker handshake expresses the same message.

Another example is of if you’re in an Islamic country where there different culture to the West, men have to be aware about not giving out their hand first and instead waiting for the woman to initiate as some cultures are more conservative.

Bringing It Altogether,

In essence, body language and gestures can easily tell a person a lot about someone’s character.  When you make a first impression, that sticks with the other person and for the time that they talk to you, subconsciously, they keep trying to justify why they made that first impression through the way you carry yourself in the conversation.

Being conscious about your body, your words and your thoughts while expressing confidence can help you greatly in making a killer first impression.

There are no second chances in making a first impression.

We all face difficult people. While some come across them every now and again, the unlucky ones have to deal with them on a daily basis whether it’s in the workplace or at home. It can be pretty easy to lose your calm and cool because difficult people can be very challenging to deal with. At times, it can go as far as affecting our perfectly good day.

I’m going to share with you 5 effective ways on how to deal with ‘energy-drainers’.

1. Realize and Set Your Intention

Some people may argue that your intention doesn’t really matter as much as the outcome; however, in the big scheme of things our intentions really do matter because they color our actions.  Your intentions have a big influence on the way you act – consciously or subconsciously.

When dealing with a challenging person, stop and think to yourself about what your intention is towards them.

Is it to hurt them?

Is it to understand them?

Is it just to get the job done?

Your intentions are a great guide for your thoughts and actions and setting them can stop you from falling back into old patterns of reactions or negativity that you may have had.

Your intentions come out to be a great ‘guide’ for what you’re thinking and for how you want to act.  Once you’ve identified what kind of a response you want out of the person, it can also help you from falling back into times when you let your negativity or reactions get the better of you.

Once you pinpoint what your objective is, that’s when you can start trying different means to reach that end goal.  Depending on what it is that you’re trying to get out of them, you have to understand what makes them responsive.

2. Listen to What They Have to Say

A huge part of being a good communicator is knowing how to listen.

Sometimes when we’re so busy reacting, we forget to actually listen.  Once you start listening to understand instead of to just reply, you might realize that there’s a reason why they’re being the way they are.  It could be because they’re just going through a breakup, a personal family issue or even something to do with at work.

A lot of people don’t feel comfortable voicing their problems to others, and some don’t feel like they have anyone to talk to.  By putting yourself in a position of wanting to listen to what’s bothering them, you’re already helping out making the situation better.

Allowing them to share their thoughts and opinions on things can actually go a long way.  Be open to have them say their part and show a genuine interest in what they have to say through making eye contact and even going the extra mile to ask questions.

3. Pick Your Battles

Personally, I’d call this a skill because not a lot of people know how to do it.

Picking your battles means that not everything deserves your reaction.  Sometimes even when you think you’re right, it’s wiser to keep quiet because not all individuals who are difficult require confrontation about their behavior.

According to Psychology Today, there are two situations under which you have to make a decision on whether or not to get involved.

For example if you’re dealing with a co-worker that you don’t get along with but is a good team member, you should take the high road.  If you’re dealing with someone temporarily, it’s worth not getting involved because this person won’t have any power over you later.

4. Be Relatable

It may take trial and error, depending on person-to-person and the ‘degree of difficulty’, however, it’s certainly not impossible.  Everyone has a trigger point or something that just makes him or her ‘tick’.

Based on whom it is you’re dealing with, you should be able to have close idea on what’s going to make them respond.  For example, if it’s a boss, talk to them about all the progress you’re making before asking for something, if it’s a sibling, do something that they like and enjoy to get them in a better mood and so forth.

By being relatable, you’re creating a genuine connection between yourself and the other person and you bring out the other person’s want to connect with you, too.

It creates a common ground for people between each other and makes others feel like they’re not alone.  For example, have you ever felt like you were the only one but then felt a genuine connection towards someone who shared a similar experience or opinion?

That’s what I mean.

5. Set Consequences

The last resort is to set consequences for their actions.  Respond with your actions rather than trying to discuss and talk out your problems.  Being able to assert consequences for others’ actions requires a lot of confidence and patience.

Similar to what you do with children, setting consequences can be a necessary response to unacceptable behavior.  People are more likely to repeat the behavior if you don’t draw boundaries of respect.  Drawing boundaries and sticking to them will force the other person to abide if they still want to be around you.

Above all, don’t feel guilty for setting boundaries and consequences.  You may feel the other person trying ways to make you feel bad for what you’re doing, for example, by trying to emotionally blackmail you and play the victim card but focus on the end result and rise above how difficult it might potentially be.

To Wrap it Up

Like I said, everyone comes across difficult people in their lives at one point or another.  It’s inevitable and that’s why it’s important to understand how we can deal with them.  Some are obnoxious, some might make you feel bad about yourself and some might actually get in the way of your growth.

Whoever they are or however they are, there is one thing they all have in common – that they have to be addressed and dealt with.