Tag: experience

How to Build Genuine Relationships

Life can be a challenge and trying to do everything alone can be even harder. We, as people, have an innate desire to connect. There’s enough loneliness in this world and unfortunately as people, we tend to be attracted to the great communicators and don’t bother with the socially awkward. So what can the socially awkward do? I’m here to help.

A little background before I dive in. This year I have put a lot of focus into building better relationships. I started this year as a quiet, sad individual who said too much and tried just a little too hard to make others like me. While I meant well, I was, how do i put it? Well, I was more or less perceived as an asshole by others. And guess what? Nobody likes assholes. So let’s go over the do’s and don’t to make sure others don’t see you as an asshole!

Don’t

  1. Make assumptions – Once you start making assumptions of what others think of you, it’s game over. YOU aren’t the other person and I’ve found out the hard way that until you talk  to the other person, you should assume your assumption is wrong until proven otherwise.

Do

  1. Be Direct – Say what you need to say, beating around the bush only leads to further frustration. The longer you wait, the more opportunity there is for doubt to enter your mind. Time is precious and it shouldn’t be wasted playing a guessing game with the other party. So go ahead, say what you need to say!

Don’t 

  1. Try to control the relationship – Yes life is scary and we try to control as much as we can to give ourselves the illusion of stability. Control never ends well, especially when you try to do so with people. Relationships form naturally and if you try to force them, you won’t make any friends. Everyone is unique and nobody likes being told what to do.

Do

  1. Genuinely Listen to Others – I used to think I was a great listener, but in truth, I wasn’t. I was simply going through the motions (nodding my head, smiling, laughing, etc.) all the while waiting for the other person to finish (or briefly pause) so that I could make my point. What I’ve had to train myself to do is not push my agenda, to chat with someone for the sake of them being heard. You have to be patient. Listen first, be engaged, and more often than not the other party will want to hear about you.

Don’t 

  1. cross your arms – Watch your body language! If you are someone who crosses their arms out of habit, train yourself to pop your hands in your pocket, lay them on the side, or whatever else you need to do. Closed vs. open body language. It may not seem like much, but having an open posture will go a long ways in making you seem approachable.

Do

  1. Smile – So important! If you’re upset? Smile! If you’re sad? Smile. If you’re happy? Have an even bigger smile! Smiling goes much further than making others perceive you as more friendly. Smiling, one, makes you feel better. And two, it has the potential to make someone else’s crappy day great! You’d be amazed by the power of a smile. So, go ahead, smile at strangers, friends, and whoever you might see! Don’t take my word for it, try it yourself and watch the magic happen!

So there you have it. A few Do’s and Don’ts that will help you build better relationships! Remember, building genuine relationships takes time! It won’t happen over night! Keep at it and don’t lose hope!

Personal Brand

Hi all, as I’ve been learning lots in college, I’m at a point in my life where I’m confident to start talking about what I’ve learned. My background involves 4 years of studying business management, so let’s say I’ve been around the block.

This year I’ve worked a lot on my personal brand. More specifically, learning how to re-brand myself. I would go as far to say I’ve gone from 0 to 100 in relatively a short amount of time. Before I get carried away though, let me define personal brand. Simply put, personal brand is who you are and how you sell yourself to others. My favorite example of a great personal brand is Abraham Lincoln. Everyone has heard of “Honest Abe”, but where did that nickname come from? Abraham Lincoln himself. And guess what? Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest U.S. presidents of all time, known for having high responsibility and making the right choices in the face of adversity.

Sounds appealing, right? So where do you even begin? That’s where I step in. Keep in mind I am speaking from my own personal experience and this is not a definitive guide to developing a successful personal brand.

  1. Create a plan of action – Simple yet often overlooked. Your Personal Brand will fail if you don’t know where it’s going. Take the time to figure out your passions and learn your strengths by doing. Once you have a grasp on what it is that makes you, you,   start to figure out how you want others to perceive you.
  2. You are always building your brand, whether you know it or not – Personal Brand is every where. The instant you step out the door from the safety of your house, you are building your personal brand. Every smile you give to a stranger while walking, every handshake you make, every mundane conversation you have builds your image. Watch what you post on Facebook and be sure to put time and effort into a LinkedIn.
  3. Be Genuine – take time to look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself how beautiful, smart, and funny you are. You must believe what you are selling. If you tell yourself you’re ugly, stupid, and will never be good enough, then you are probably right. But if you keep telling yourself you are good enough, then you can watch the magic unfold.
  4. Be Patient – Building your personal brand takes time. The best advice I can give on the matter is that it’s the little things that count. Watching what you post on Facebook, listening to another person talk, or simply hanging out with other people, it all adds up. So take the time to invest in the short-term and it’ll pay off in dividends in the long -term!
  5. Don’t try to be something you’re not – This is by far the most important. You are you for a reason and when you try to be something you’re not, you’re wasting your time. That’s not to say don’t try new things, all I’m saying is find out what you’re good at (and enjoy) and work on selling that. Strive to be your ideal self, not someone else’s version of what you should be!

Thanks for reading, now go out and build your brand!

Quote of the Week

“Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.”
-Heraclitus

A fun quote to start off the week. Simple yet so true. I often find my favorite quotes to be the simplest in words. Have a great week and thanks for reading!

How to Write a Blog

This is a question I don’t have the answer to. I’m new to blogging and am very much testing the waters, but I’m sure you already know that if you’ve read the “about me” page. But I think, like with many things in life, starting a blog is a leap of faith. You don’t know quite what you’re going to get out of it. Some do it for fame, others for fun, but at the end of the day it’s all one big roller coaster ride. Like a roller coaster, it’s an exhilarating experience. An escape from the everyday, a way to voice your thoughts free of restriction, free of judgment. So maybe I do have a little to say, so here’s a few tips that got me started (I’ve been blogging for a few years now, but my other blog was relatively simple).

1. Don’t be afraid to start:

If you have something you want to say, just write.

2. The nice thing about a blog is people choose to follow you:

You attract the audience, no need to worry about finding the right topics to talk about, just speak what’s on your mind, what interests you.

3. A blog is ever growing, it does not live in a vacuum:

Your first post may be lame, may get no likes, but that’s not a sign to give up, that’s a sign to keep trying.

4. Keep it positive:

I know I said write whatever, but try to put a positive spin on it, nobody wants to read about how depressing the world is. Optimists go far in this world.

5. Have fun:

If you’re not having fun while writing your blog, then what’s the point? It has no benefit for you and most likely will not have any benefit for those reading.

So there you have it, five tips for writing a blog. Have a great Tuesday and thanks for reading!