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What’s Your Number?

Every morning when we wake up there’s a giant number written on our forehead.  We get dressed and go on with our day, carrying this number with us along the way.  Our magical number lets the world know how extraordinary we are.  Each person we come into contact with can read it…

…but who put this number there? 

We did! Whether we realize it or not, each day we tell the world how awesome (or not so awesome) we feel about who we are.

Sometimes we unknowingly scribble a “5” up there.  Before we know it, our entire day has become less than extraordinary and we end up feeling pretty average.  Soon others catch on, and they start to think of us as just a “5” too.  Thanks to the law of attraction, we are now running with a whole crew of “5”s…

…but why hang with “5”s when you can hang with “10”s?

Think about it: We  get to select the number we walk around with every single day.  If we wake up in the morning and put on our “10”, everyone around us will start to notice us as “10”s, too! The truth is that the world takes us at our own estimate.  If we don’t think highly of ourselves, how can we expect others to do the same?

As “10”s, we attract even more “10”s into our lives!  The more we treat ourselves as “10”s and encourage others to do the same, the more extraordinary the group of eagles we flock with will become!

Action Item: Wake up each morning, take our your imaginary marker and draw a 10 on your forehead!

Use Social Media To Get Ahead!

Social media speak is such a big part of our everyday lingo.  I say “like” and “tag” more times in one day than my dog’s name!  And whether we like it (pun intended!) or not, who we are on social media affects how people see us in REAL life.

Sometimes we forget, what we think of as sarcastic or funny might not always be seen that way.  Social media has the ability to INFLUENCE who people think you are…or are not.

Your college admissions counselor might take a peek at Facebook while reviewing applications because she wants to know what kind of characters she’s bringing on campus!  As she’s browsing through posts, she comes across your rant from last Wednesday after you blew that math final: “UGH! I HATE SCHOOL! I am quitting, who is with me?”  If she was on the fence about admitting you, that might just tip the scales.

Be cautious about what you “like” and who you “follow”.  It’s easy for people to check out your interests and likes on Facebook.   As a hiring manager, I often checked out the social media presence of applicants.   I was surprised at the information people made public on their Facebook accounts!  Trust me, the girl who just liked the page “Lazy People Problems”, didn’t make it too far in the application process.

Sometimes, we just need to put a little more thought into the image we create of ourselves online.   Instead of shutting down your account or blocking everyone under the sun, consider asking yourself these two questions when creating your online content:

  1. What does this post or photo say about who I am?  Does it fit with how I want others to perceive me?
  2. Would I be embarrassed if a future employer, professor, or college admissions board read this post or saw this photo?

Social media is meant to be fun.  It’s also meant to be an expression of ourselves, but we can’t deny the fact that it has turned into an online platform for self-marketing.  Take advantage of that!  Showcase your skills, your positive relationships, your good nature, etc.  Use your social media presence to make future employers and admissions boards WANT you as part of their organization or school.

Your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts can give you a competitive advantage and career head start if you make the right moves.

Do Your Fears Wake You Up?

This week I finally got a chance to see the new movie everyone is talking about, Divergent.

Not expecting much more than a little entertainment, I was surprised to find myself motivated by the main character Tris.  Tris is part of world divided by personality and overtaken by fear.

Sometimes, we might find ourselves overtaken by fear.  The best place to look for fear is in our excuses.  What reasons do we give for not acting on our goals? What obstacles do we let shut us out from doing our best in school, on the field or on stage? These excuses shed light on what we are afraid of in our lives.

When we meet Tris, we quickly learn that she is different—a Divergent.  Unlike the majority of the people in her society, Tris does not fit into just one personality type or way of life.  Most importantly, though, her fears don’t shut her down like the rest. Instead, her fears wake her up and call her to action.

I admit, often times, I am shut down from my fears.  I use excuses to justify not trying out for the team or not applying for the job of my dreams because I FEAR I will not be good enough.  Instead of being crippled by fear, fear should bring us to life!  What if every time we faced our fears, it made us ACT? …made us greater? …inspired us to be our best?

After seeing the movie, I decided to check out the book (I know…I did it backwards!).  I quickly glanced at the front cover and read: “One choice can transform you.”

Sometimes fear cripples us from facing the decisions that will ultimately change our life. When you and I face our fears in the coming days, weeks, months, and even years, will we allow our fears to shut us down or will we use our fears to wake us up and help us make the choices that can transform our lives?

 

Are you looking for one choice that can transform your life? Check out our summer program this July 7th-11th at the University of Louisville and learn how to make the choices that will help you get anything you want out of life!