Be Different or be dead

October 26, 2019

Why success doesn’t necessarily come from working really hard

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Why success doesn’t necessarily come from working really hard.

Many people think that spending most of their time and effort working for the company is enough for a promotion. However, they always find themselves getting bypassed when promotion time comes. As a result, they end up tired and feeling unappreciated for all the hard work they put in.
Let’s say you’re starting as a financial consultant, how can you excel in your chosen career? There are various ways of obtaining that promotion you richly deserved.

Aside from working hard, you should also consider:

Increasing your influence

Working long hours leave you little time for other career-enhancing activities. Instead of focusing on the quantity, consider boosting the quality of your work. For example, think of ways on how to accomplish your daily task in the least amount of time. By doing so, management will undoubtedly notice your efficiency for getting things done.

Often, it’s not possible to finish all your work within an 8-hour workday. However, if you’re aiming for a higher position, you’ll need to develop time-saving solutions.
If you’re heading a team, make efficient use of your members to accomplish more. With more time on your hands, you can then connect with other groups or departments where you can offer your help or expertise. 

Meeting the right people

Getting buried in paperwork will deprive you of making a personal connection with other people in the company. Yes, it’s essential to finish your work. However, you should also devote some time to attending company social functions or talking to your colleagues.
These meeting and communications are usually vital for any promotional aspirations aside from doing meaningful work.

Adopting a positive personality

Many people mistakenly believed that working hard can compensate for their poor personality. Unfortunately, a boorish attitude won’t help you elicit goodwill from your co-workers and superiors. Without their cooperation, attaining your promotion goals is next to impossible. After all, companies value teamwork and collaboration among co-workers.

It’s unlikely that you’ll achieve recognition for being a lone wolf no matter how hard you work. You should instead make an effort to become a highly contributing team player.

Finding helpful insights into your work

There’s a misconception that executives and senior management attain their positions by working harder than others. While it’s true that hard work plays an integral part in their success, intelligence is also essential. Since time and physical effort is a limited quantity, resourcefulness can also help you accomplish more.

Helping other people succeed

Helping other people succeed may seem counter-intuitive for many people. Shouldn’t you focus on your own career? Besides they may also be your rivals for the top position you’re aiming for.
The truth is, putting people down to advance your career will rarely work and may even backfire. However, by helping people succeed, you may be paving your upward rise.

Consider the following situations:
— Helping supervisors to achieve their goals can enhance your suitability for higher roles in the company
— Promoting your teammate, can result in your group attaining a well-deserved recognition.

If you’re just starting your career consider the following in addition to a work hard ethic:

Create your career vision (write it in a journal)

A career in the financial industry will require plenty of hard work. However, your efforts won’t matter if you haven’t set a career vision. While your goals may change over time, it’s vital to lay out a personal plan and not somebody else’s.

Take an entry-level job but don’t stay there

When your funds are short, and your dream job is not yet available, consider taking any job even if it’s a low paying one. However, you have no reason to get stuck with that work. Instead, consider submiting your CV to recruitment sites and continue improving your skills and looking for your dream job. It’s important to keep your options open in case a recruiter presents your dream job. 

Make your own career decisions

Ultimately, you choose your career path. Don’t rely on the words of others when it comes to your career. If there is little progress of getting promoted in your current company, it’s probably better to look for greener pastures.

Never take a job because of generous salary or perks

It’s tempting to accept a job offer that comes with a fancy title or big salary. Even so, it’s challenging to stay in a company where you don’t like or trust your co-workers.
So when a job offer seems too good to be true, exercise caution before accepting.

Time is a precious resource, spend it wisely

Life is temporary, and so is your job, giving you little time to waste. You have to advocate for your career even if you have to face plenty of doubters and haters. You should also consider when it’s time to leave a situation that’s no longer a suitable for you.

You won’t succeed in your career by trying to please everyone. You have to stand up and speak your mind. Such action may get you fired, but it sticking to your conviction makes you stronger. You can’t succeed in your career by merely playing safe or strictly adhering to the job description. 

Conclusion

Many people think that hard work alone is enough for getting promoted. However, such is not the case. Numerous factors can help you attain the position you want. Aside from completing your daily tasks, you need to socialise and make friends or connections.
Also, you need to exercise and exhibit personal traits that will prove to the company that you have the ‘right stuff’ for the top position. 

— Lauren Walker is the marketing administrator for Stellar Select, a financial services recruitment agency. The company provides the best match of mortgage and financial service candidates with employers who need their talents. Ever since its formation in 2005, candidates have been relying on Stellar Select as a trusted agency. Meanwhile, clients value them as a valuable source of professional talent.

• Posted 10.26.19 at 06:53 am by Roy Osing
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October 5, 2019

Why there’s absolutely no truth to becoming an overnight success

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Why there’s absolutely no truth to becoming an overnight success.

Anything that’s worth doing takes time. But still, we subscribe to the myth of overnight success. That’s because sometimes successful people make it look easy.

Whether they’re chasing a passion, getting rich, enjoying fame, or all of the above — sometimes it can seem like their success was handed to them on a silver platter. When you see people like this, just remember: you’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Behind every successful entrepreneur or innovative leader is years of doubt, failure, and struggle.

Even though the fastest route between two points is a straight line, the road to success is rarely that. It’s long, it’s winding, and it requires work. But it’s on this road where we learn our most valuable lessons and grow into a better person.

Still not convinced? Check out the infographic below on famous people and their success timelines. Note how long it took them to get where they are today.

— Karlie Kramer writes on behalf of Credit.com on how people can reach their fullest potential both financially and personally. Specificially, she’s interested in inspiring people to embrace the learning process and not take failure as a sign of defeat. Her most recent piece is on debunking the myth of overnight success.

• Posted 10.5.19 at 03:18 am by Roy Osing
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September 28, 2019

How lookism can be used as an amazing competitive weapon

How lookism can be used as an amazing competitive weapon.

Being different is essential if you want to stand out and be noticed in a world where most people tend to blend together. That’s why you should be bold and let your inner light shine through.

Looking good and standing out from a crowd doesn’t have to be difficult or scary, but the catch is in the details. No matter how well we know that beauty is just skin deep, we also know that looking our best makes us feel better and confident.

Let how you feel reflect how you look.

Here are 11 simple improvements you can make in order to stand out from the crowd every day.

1. Personality and confidence

There is no better way to stand out from the crowd than by being yourself. There are many discussions about what’s more important: appearance vs personality. My take on this is that they are both equally important. You just need to find a balance between both.
Yes, it’s a personality that makes us unique and distinct but why not let our personality show through our appearance. There is no better way of showing how different we are then by letting our personalities guide us.

Spend time with yourself, learn what you like and dislike in terms of style and makeup. Find out which physical attributes are your best according to you – be self-criticizing but in a good way. Then learn to enhance those physical features you consider good or change those you dislike. Work on yourself and build up confidence. There is nothing more attractive than a confident person.

The body language of a confident person is different and unique and it attracts attention. That’s why if you want to stand out don the clothes you feel most comfortable in (but that complement your physique) and be confident!

2. Skin care routine

Even though beauty is skin deep, taking care of our skin is pretty important. The skin is our body’s largest organ and taking proper care of it can make a world of difference in years to come.
Apart from the fact that healthy skin is one point more on the attractiveness scale, healthy skin also helps us reduce the aging signs and thus makes us age gracefully.

Taking care of your skin will also help you be confident. If your skin is clear and clean, you won’t have to be self-conscious about your looks. You will be confident and it will show. Having clear and healthy skin is just one of the ways that can separate you from the crowd, and it doesn’t take much to have clean skin. All you need to do is develop a routine and stick to it. Take care of your skin and it will take care of you!

3. Healthy smile

There is this thing known as dental appearance and it’s pretty important if you want to look good and stand out. Oral and dental health are some of the really important things when building your self-esteem and confidence.

Apart from making you look good, having healthy teeth is utterly important for your overall health. Many dental health problems have been linked to health problems such as heart and diabetes. So, to prevent bigger problems and complications we should take care of our dental health.

Additionally, dental appearance such as the color of your teeth or alignment has become a great factor in self-perception and overall appearance. Today, aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry is commonly used to improve the appearance of teeth. You can have your teeth whitened or straightened in no time.

Or if you don’t like going to the dentists, you can have your teeth whitened at home. There are many different methods of whitening your teeth at home. Having a white and healthy smile has never been easier.
So, smile more and show those pearly whites and you will automatically be 100% more attractive and different.

4. Corrections

We all have at least one part of our body that we strongly dislike and that we would like to change. So, why not change it?
In this day and age, it has never been easier to change something on your body. If that will make you feel better and happier about yourself, then go for it.

Procedures such as nose jobs, boob jobs, and even lip fillers have become a normal occurrence. All you have to do is know what you want to change and know the difference between cosmetic and plastic surgery.

Both of these types of surgeries have become the new normal, and being unhappy with your appearance is no longer an excuse. These surgeries can not only make you feel happy but can do wonderful things for your health too. From removing fat and excess amounts of skin to removing ugly scars.
Get Botox, yet another treatment that can help you look confident and wrinkle-free. There is nothing wrong with getting a little help in that department. Keep in mind that for this non-surgical treatment age doesn’t matter. 

There are options that can make you feel self-satisfied and happy. And if you are happy and confident, it will show and you will be more attractive to people. Being self-satisfied and happy will make you stand out for sure! 

5. Change your hairstyle

Having the same hairstyle can get really boring pretty fast. Following new hairstyle trends is ok, but all of a sudden you see everyone having the same hairstyle and the trend is no longer all that new or interesting. On the other hand, standing out with a completely different hairstyle can be a bit intimidating at first. But once you do it, you will not only feel better but confident even.

So, why not vamp up your look, stand out from the crowd and be confident with a new hairstyle all at once? 
Start by having your hair color changed. Changing your hair color isn’t permanent and yet it’s some kind of change. You can start with mild color changes such as highlights and then with time dye your whole hair. Changing your hair color is a great way to make you stand out from the crowd.

Another way to spice up your looks is to have your hair cut. Want to stand out, get a bold cut. You will see how just by changing your hairstyle, length, and color you can completely change your look.

6. Take care of your eyebrows and eyelashes

Nothing says more put together than having your eyebrows on fleek. Having nice and groomed eyebrows is proof that you’re taking care of yourself very well. This is because the first thing that people notice is your eyebrows. So why not have them perfectly-groomed. You can always have a pair of tweezers in your bag and just use them whenever need be. That easy.

The same goes for eyelashes, curling them will make your eyes look better and more open. Once you curl your eyelashes, you will never want to go back to not curling them, ever again.
It’s the small things like brows and eyelashes that will make you look different and stand out more.

7. Up your makeup game

No one is perfect and no one has perfect facial symmetry. However, makeup can rectify this and make us look more attractive. Makeup can make our eyes look bigger or smaller, lips bigger, it can enhance our features and soften our prominent chin…in short, makeup can do miracles and make us look flawless.

And with so many makeup tutorials out there, there is no way that you can’t learn how to do your own makeup. From bold eyeshadow colors to perfectly contoured cheekbones – you will look perfect and eye-catching. 

8. Unique fragrance

The sense of smell is our most powerful sense because of its close link to the memory. That’s why having a unique signature scent is just another way of separating yourself from the crowd.
The perfume you wear can make you draw attention to yourself and stand out of the crowd. This doesn’t mean that you should have only one go-to scent. Just like accessories, perfumes can be changed depending on the occasion. 

If you really want to attract attention and turn heads, wear perfumes with unique and exotic notes. The choice is always individual but try to choose something that will make you feel good.
These fragrances don’t have to be expensive or branded, they just have to have those unique notes that will trigger peoples memory and remind them of you. There is no better way to stand out then by finding your signature scent.

9. Wear bolder colours

It takes guts to wear bold colored clothes, I’ll give you that. But this is another element that can make you stand out in the crowd.
It’s interesting that the color of your clothes can tell a lot about your personality and your mood.
For example, if you love wearing red, you are someone who loves to take risks and who is very passionate. You are energetic and extroverted, and very open. Red is a very eye-catching color and apart from saying much about you, it also makes you stand out in many different ways. 

If red is not you then find colors and shades that complement your skin tone. You don’t have to overdo it, just use statement pieces with bold colors. One statement piece is enough, for example, wear a red leather jacket, a colorful scarf or a bold colored skirt.

Let the primary color be something neutral that you can combine with those bold accent pieces. This year’s popular bold color is yellow. If this color complements your skin tone, you can incorporate it quite nicely into your wardrobe. 

10. Accessorize

Accessories can make a world of difference if you want to stand out. Accessories can make you feel confident and chic. However, just like with anything, choosing the right accessories is crucial.
Big bold necklaces are ok if you’re wearing something neutral. Don’t let your clothes clash with your accessories. Too much will only achieve the opposite of what you’re going for.

A cool watch is a timeless statement piece – and today there are so many options to choose from. Watches can be an ideal accessory for just about any occasion.

Handbags and purses are another important and useful accessory. You can either have various of them or just the one that can go with every outfit.
Sunglasses, especially funky sunglasses are in nowadays. Find the ones that correspond to your personality and that fit your head shape, and your confidence game will be strong.

11. Shoes

And finally, we come to the final piece in our puzzle of looks that can make you stand out. To complete the whole look, you will need a comfortable yet eye-catching pair of shoes. Set yourself apart by wearing shoes that match your personality.

You can make a pair of shoes your own with just the right DIY projects – from painted to glittered shoes, everything counts. Finding or making the perfect pair of shoes will not only bring your whole look together but it will get you some compliments.
Once again, don’t go overboard – if you decide to wear a pair of glittered shoes make sure that the rest of your outfit is neutral. You want to set yourself apart and not give the wrong impression. 

From major changes like surgeries to small ones like changing your hairstyle – choose whatever works for you. As you can see standing out from the crowd isn’t all that difficult, you just need to find what suits you best. And, of course, what makes you feel best.

Looking good and being comfortable in your own skin is the best thing you can do for yourself. Start with working on yourself then gradually move onto small things like physical aspect. And keep in mind: confidence is the major element in standing out from the crowd.

— Helen Bradford Is a journalism student and a freelance writer with a 4-year-long experience in writing. She always strives to create high-quality content; her contributions are very informative, interesting and well-written. In her spare time, She enjoys reading crime novels, doing fitness and spending time with her dogs, Maya and Buster.

• Posted 9.28.19 at 05:31 am by Roy Osing
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September 21, 2019

How to use colours to make your branding amazing

Psychology of colour in branding is more than just a sentence explanation of mere representation of each of the colours.

It is a fact the specific colours can create a powerful impact on the choices  made by the consumers.

As per a report published by WebpageFX, consumers make judgments subconsciously about a site within 90 seconds of its viewing. Between 62% to 90% of the judgment is made solely based on colours.

Colours transform the perception of the brands

So, there is always a reason why the topmost brands choose a colour scheme, publish certain guidelines related to brands and work hard for making sure that their designs remain consistent across all their channels of communication. As per Kissmetrics, colours increase the prospects of recognition of a brand by 80%. Well, that’s a huge figure!

The colour theory

All the shades of red, green and blue are considered as the primary colours and violet, yellow and orange are the secondary colours. The tertiary colours include all the mixed shades of these colours.

How do colours help in brand building?

The smallest change in colours impact the buying habits of the consumers and their desire to purchase a particular product.

Colours such as red denote energy, excitement, courage, passion and attention. It is used in industries like Food, Sports, Entertainment and children products whereas orange denotes independence, optimism, adventure, creativity and fun. It is used in industries like entertainment and transportation. According to various sources, as high as 85% of consumers say that colour is the main factor while selecting a product.

Colours play an important role in how people interpret the brands. They have the power to influence the emotions of your consumers.

And most importantly, you can skyrocket your conversion rates by carefully integrating the colour psychology.

— Geet Bagrodia is the owner and founder of Vowels Advertising Agency which has offices in Jaipur, Dubai and Melbourne. A designer by profession, Geet has played a critical role in building over 200 brands in the city from scratch. He and his team are actively involved in redefining brands across the globe. Having been in the industry for over 6 years, he has gained deep insights within the entire branding spectrum.

• Posted 9.21.19 at 05:51 am by Roy Osing
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