Take Control of Your Career

You dream about a bright future for your career. But getting from the job you’re in now to the position you’d like to be in can seem daunting, …

* This article was originally published here

It’s Time To Love Your Quirky Self

When I was younger, I had a pair of flared pants that my friends made fun of. They were blue and shiny with an unflattering cut; basically, everything wrong with an outfit. But I loved them with my whole heart. They made me feel like I was Hannah Montana. I would giggle, wear them, and dance along to her songs.

Then life happened. And I realized I looked ridiculous wearing those pants. So I stopped.

Do you remember when something like this happened to you?

When you stopped smiling too wide because you realized that your teeth were a little crooked. When you stopped wearing your lucky socks because they couldn’t blend in anymore. When you stopped dancing like no one was watching when you realized they were. When you stopped snorting in your laugh and telling them what you wanted. When you hid a part of yourself away from the world.

I know it’s because you care a lot about what people think of you. You have a huge heart that just wants to make everyone smile. Your sunshine soul just wants to be understood. But you have been judged and had your heart broken too many times. So you’re afraid of being that girl the world first cocks its head at out of curiosity, temporarily amused, but then not bothered enough to know better. That girl who they ignore. Who they don’t get.

You’re afraid that while climbing this cliff of pretense, one day you’re going to fall. That you’ll be left empty. That in this fear of not being understood, one day you’ll look in the mirror and wonder who is staring back. You won’t be able to recognize yourself.

But I just want to ask you one question: What does it mean to fall?

People say when you fall, the worst that can happen is that you fall on the ground. Hit rock bottom. But imagine if the ground wasn’t there. Then you would be falling and falling and falling. Endlessly. Falling with nowhere to go. Isn’t that much worse?

The ground actually catches you. It lets you stay there, just for a little bit. To heal. To breathe away from the rest of the world. And as you sit there, injured and broken, you admit to yourself what you really want to say. Who you really want to be.

So, brave soul, when you land on that ground, make sure you take time to heal your wounds. Understand that you cannot control who hurts you in this world. You cannot control who walks away or who stays or who understands. You never could. You just have to take a chance. Instead of being scared of falling off of the cliff into the water, do me a favor. Jump right in. And as you swim, notice the numerous colored fish attracted to your beautiful soul. Why? Because now they can see you—really see you.

Some fish are going to swim away. They’re not going to appreciate your soul. But that’s okay. It’s better to be hated for the right reasons than be loved for the wrong ones.

Just remember that you are not here in this world to protect your heart. You are here to give pieces of it to the people you meet, knowing that the biggest piece belongs to you. Always.

So break it. Break pieces of it as you go along and sprinkle them like fairy dust. At the things and people that matter to you. Chop that hair. Change your dressing style. Travel. Stargaze under the night sky. Kiss a boy with a naughty smirk. Grin as wide as you can. Twirl like you can’t stop. And dance like your next breath depends on it.

It’s time to remember where you are. This world’s too free to be lost for a soul with fire within. There’s so much wonder and beauty to be discovered. It’s time to realize that you’re beautifully clueless in a confused world. And it’s time to know that you are your own. Maybe you sing Christmas songs in the summer. Maybe you wear Winnie the Pooh socks under your boots. Or maybe you like to wear the most unflattering pair of flared pants.

Own it.

Go on those adventures. Meet people like you who aren’t afraid to be who they are. It’s time to be wildly free. It’s time to love your quirks.

And the next time a voice tells you, “What if you fall?” tell them with a gentle smile,“Then the ground will catch me.”

* This article was originally published here

4 ways to future-proof your money and career, from CEO and author of 'Make Change Work for You'

I've spent 25 years teaching Fortune 500 leaders and four-star generals how to boost creativity and innovation, design winning business strategies, …

* This article was originally published here

How to Make a Career Change at 30

Are you fed up in your current job? Perhaps feeling undervalued or overworked? If that sounds like you, perhaps you need a career change. This is a big step, but unless you want to become a professional sportsperson, there is no reason why you cannot make a career change at 30. Do You Really Want […]

The post How to Make a Career Change at 30 appeared first on Personal Development.

* This article was originally published here

30 Life Lessons I Wish I Would’ve Known Before 30

1. Embrace the struggle. It’s emotionally draining and incredibly stressful, but you’ll never learn more than you do during these speed bumps.

2. Your deepest and most rewarding relationships are the ones you build with vulnerability.

3. You will never stop getting disappointed. It is in those moments that the best humans show up.

4. The truth will ALWAYS come out. Being a jerk in the moment will always outweigh a lifetime of guilt.

5. Trust. Your. Gut. There is nothing truer than your instincts.

6. Friends and relationships come and go. It’s okay to go on separate life paths. It may mean you’re just two separate branches growing on the same tree.

7. No burden is too big for the ones that love you most. We all go through struggles and need to lean on each other. It makes people feel good that you trust them in your darkest hours.

8. Most arguments are simple misunderstandings. Quiet your ego and communicate from your heart.

9. Everyone you cross paths with will not be in the same place in life as you. That’s okay. You were once where they were or you will be where they are.

10. Never believe there is nothing left to learn. Your entire lifespan is a compilation of continuous knowledge.

11. There is no such thing as a perfect life, only perfect moments. Anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t courageous enough to be honest with themselves, let alone anyone else.

12. Where the mind goes, energy flows. Positive self talk leads to positive outcomes.

13. Believe actions, not words. People may lie for many different reasons, but you can always find truth in how someone treats you.

14. You can never love someone into changing. If you don’t love them as they are, you love their potential. Move on.

15. Facing your flaws is the scariest and most difficult discovery you will ever come to terms with.

16. The best medicine for a broken heart is always sharing an evening with the friends you call family.

17. It’s okay to say no or cancel plans. You never need an excuse to spend time alone.

18. Take care of yourself. Whatever that looks like for you, make time for it.

19. Know your worth and own it. You are only as valuable as you make yourself.

20. Self-confidence is hands down the sexiest attribute you can radiate.

21. A good reputation will make life easier, but having good character is what makes your life rich.

22. “Making it” is subjective. If you live your life based on the next big thing to give meaning to your life, you’ve lost sight on what this journey is about.

23. Be brave enough to show up. For yourself. For your friends. For your family. These are the three elements that make your entire life worth living, so don’t miss any opportunity to truly show up for someone you love.

24. Speak your mind and stand up for yourself, but never use words with the intention of hurting anyone.

25. Take responsibility for what you do but never apologize for how you feel.

26. Don’t expect everyone to understand your perspective, no matter how well you explain it. They will only meet you where they are at in life, and we all learn lessons at different times and in different ways.

27. Don’t hold grudges just because someone doesn’t see a situation through your eyes. Explain your view. Stop and listen to theirs with an open heart. Then decide if you both can find common ground.

28. Don’t make snap decisions out of emotion. Sit with it, think it through, and love yourself enough to know who and what is helping or hindering your life.

29. Respect each other’s journey. Help when you can. Say goodbye when you need to. And be thankful for everyone you come in contact with.

30. Sometimes your path veers away from the ones you were closest to. It can sometimes feel like you’re making the biggest mistake of your life to step away from your inner circle, but trust that the ones that are real will always stay. They’re just patiently waiting for you to realize they never left and were cheering you on the whole time.

* This article was originally published here

What Writers Have to Learn from The 10X Rule | Jane Friedman

Today’s guest post is by Carmen Amato (@CarmenConnects), author of Narco Noir, the latest installment in her Detective Emilia Cruz police series. Grant …

* This article was originally published here

30 Dick Moves That Will Make You Lose Friends And Stay Single

1. Making plans with someone and then telling them you can’t make it 30 minutes after the agreed upon time.

2. Being nonchalant or putting down somebody who excitedly tells you about their accomplishment or work or whatever.

3. Cheating. I don’t get how you can lie to someone you care about and then just be a human trash bag. If you cheat, you’re the lowest of the low.

4. Not waving, smiling, or saying hello to someone who just said hello to you first.

5. When people only come around or hit you up when they need something.

6. I’m not sure the word for it, but doing that thing where people always invalidate your feelings by one upping with their own… Like:

“You think your job is stressful? Try having my job.”

“You’re proud of something your kid did today? My kid did something even better last year.”

“You’re not feeling well? Well I’ve been sick for weeks and haven’t taken a single day off.”

7. Hitting on your friend’s romantic partner.

8. Putting your bag on the seat next to you in a busy train/subway/bus.

9. Ghosting someone in a relationship.

10. Not offering a tampon to a sister in need. It’s an internationally agreed rule. If she says, “Fuck,” in the bathroom, you ask if she needs one. Period.

11. Talking behind your back. Motherfucker, just say it to my face!!!

12. Asking someone who is not talking in a group conversation, “Why are you so quiet?”

13. Eating the last slice of pizza when you didn’t buy it.

14. Mentioning politics then saying you don’t want to discuss politics.

15. Talking on speakerphone in a very public place.

16. Making your friends look bad just so you can look cool in front of girls.

17. Littering. You’re fucking up our beautiful world, you lazy, disgusting, entitled brat.

18. Playing music so loud that your neighbors can hear it. Especially in the middle of the night.

19. When someone cuts in line.

20. Ditching your friend to hang out with someone else.

21. Trying to squeeze in behind a merging car and screwing up the zipper formation while merging.

22. Parking space theft when someone is clearly sitting there waiting for it.

23. Leaving a shopping cart in a parking space.

24. Treating waiters/waitresses like shit.

25. Sending dick pics not asked for.

26. Not cleaning up after yourself in communal places like public toilets. It’s really not that hard to pick up that toilet brush and send your sticky shit on its merry way.

27. Whistling to retail workers to get their attention.

28. Taking up two parking spaces. I mean, come on dude.

29. Swerving between different lanes without signaling so you can get to your destination faster.

30. Blocking a doorway or a path so someone has to try to squeeze past. It’s not a power move, it just makes them look like a dick.

* This article was originally published here