Thursday, September 6, 2007
A while ago I made it a point to watch the movie "Legally Blonde."
Not just for the bright, chirpy and eminently watchable Reese Witherspoon, but also because I loved the message it sent out.
If you didn't see the movie, all you need to know is that it's about a smart, fashion-conscious blonde who's told time and again, by her family and friends, that it's impossible for someone like her to go to Harvard law school.
That she's just not smart enough and doesn't have what it takes.
In the movie, the character played by Witherspoon not only goes to Harvard law, but also through sheer determination and intuition, graduates at the top of her class.
Its just the sort of movie people love. Because it makes us believe that we too are capable of achieving anything we want to.
It reminds us how we often let ourselves, and others, underestimate our own potential.
And how we undermine our own sense of self, because of what we look like or where we came from.
But why just let it remain a movie, when it can be the story of your life...
Have you ever asked yourself what it is that keeps you from reaching your full potential?
From doing what you are inherently capable of?
For many of us, it's a lack of belief in ourselves. A lack of confidence in our own ability to succeed.
And because we believe we will fail, we usually do.
But there are people who have succeeded beyond all expectation - no matter what they look like, or where they come from.
One of my favourite role models who comes to mind is another Hollywood celebrity, Barbra Streisand.
Indeed, one of my favourite films of all time is her movie, 'Yentl,' about a courageous, intelligent woman trying to fulfill her capabilities, in the face of overwhelming odds.
"Yentl" was also the movie in which Streisand became the first woman ever to produce, direct, write and star in a major motion picture.
Streisand carved her own path, and broke the mould.
She showed how a woman with unconventional looks can make it in a field where beauty is more important than brains.
So, if you believe that you are less than someone, because of your lack of education, looks, talent, background or ability, take courage from her achievements.
They are an inspiration not only for women, but for everyone.
Because all it take is a belief. The belief that you can do what it takes.
Don't wait for someone else to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. Stop depending on others for handouts.
Don't wait for the right opportunity to fall in your lap. Because it never will.
All you need to carve your own path, is the confidence and the belief that you can succeed at anything you set out to do, no matter what the odds.
So start today. Choose a mentor.
Learn from the masters. Re-invent yourself.
Create your own opportunities and forge your own future.
Your belief in yourself, coupled with the courage to see it through, is what will carry you from a life of mediocrity and under-achievement, into a world where you can be the winner you aspire to be.
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Copyright © Priya Shah
Priya Shah blogs on internet marketing and SEO. Read about her latest passion at the Exhilarate Adventure Sports blog.
This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
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Quick Fixes: Happiness in a Bottle
This is the age of the Quick Fix - the magic bullets that claim to take away our sorrows, our tiredness, our sadness.
You need look no farther than your mailbox to see the range of remedies - prescription drugs and supplements - being plugged for everything from stress to low energy.
In the age of modern-day stresses, of recessions and depressions, most people find it hard to resist the cure-all promises of "safe and natural" products.
From those that claim to calm a hyperactive child, to those that give you a much-needed energy boost, or revive a sagging love life, quick fixes are everywhere.
And the fact that the people selling them are raking in a fortune shows that there is indeed a great demand for these products.
There's no doubt that supplements provide genuine relief to those who suffer from organic disease. And some may provide a 'safer' alternative for those who cannot tolerate prescriptions.
But with more and more people reaching for a "safe" pill just to get through the day, taking supplements to cope with life is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Most of us simply don't have the time or the inclination to address the root cause of our stress. Besides it costs considerably more to consult a therapist than to buy a bottle of kava-kava from an online store.
But quick fixes are a short term solution. And by using them as coping strategies, we risk slipping into a never-ending cycle of psychological dependence, while ignoring the root cause of our stress.
Stress - resulting from the way we react to situations, from the emotions, behaviour patterns and habits that are part of our mental makeup.
Changing the attitudes or habits of a lifetime is never easy. We must find coping strategies - support from friends, family, community, religion, spirituality - and our own inner strength.
We need to use whatever works best for us, to avoid slipping back into the cycle of stress and despair.
The solutions are often there right in front of us - if we care enough to look for them. You could find them in a book, a church, a family reunion, a new love.
Often the answers are right there in your mind, but you have to CHOOSE to accept them.
Solving a problem takes three conscious steps:
Awareness: Realising that we have a problem
Acceptance: That we have to do something about it, and
Action: Taking concrete steps to resolve it
Once you start to eliminate the root cause of your stress, youŽll find yourself reaching less and less for that magic pill, that upper, that quick fix.
A pill might give you a few moments of bliss. But when you eliminate the attitudes and behaviour that keep you down, the peace it brings will last you a lifetime.
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Priya Shah is an internet publisher and writes the Marketing Slave blog.
Click here for free self improvement tips and books.
This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
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The Art Of Persuasion: 7 Tips To Successfully Persuade Anyone
The saying "No man is an island" is an undeniable truth. We need the support and cooperation of other people to help us in reaching our goals.
Successful people know that one of the most important abilities to possess is the ability to persuade and influence others.
Here are some hot tips to do this effectively.
1) Enter Their World
Try to put yourself in the other's shoes and understand the situation from their point of view. Set aside your personal interests and concentrate on them.
Ask yourself if you are them, what would you do? What would be your opinion? Then take the appropriate action that would be beneficial to them.
2) Mirror Their Body Language
People feel comfortable with those who are like them. Copy the person you are trying to create a connection with.
Observe how they act, how they speak, and how they think. If they rub their forehead while they think, act like them. If they speak at a clear and slow pace, try to do the same thing. This is called mirroring.
In due time, the people you're mirroring will subconsciously feel more comfortable with you. It's as if they see themselves in you.
Proceed with caution, however. Do not let them be aware that you are copying them. They might interpret it as mockery and you'll just get into trouble.
3) Be Cheerful and Nice
Did your mother tell you to be nice to people? She was right. People like others who brighten up their day.
Make a sincere compliment to raise their spirits. Little things like these go a long way to breaking the ice and setting the relationship off to a good start.
4) Be Sincere and Trustworthy
Make them feel that whenever they need help or just someone to look up to, you'll always be there to lend a hand. People tend to be more receptive to those they trust.
If you have a boss or client you are trying to please, overdeliver and exceed their expectations. Soon, they will notice your efforts and will be more than glad to grant your request.
5) Provide Them With Compelling Evidence
Explain to them how your ideas or suggestions could be the most effective techniques to implement.
Show them undeniable proof that you have the best product by way of testimonials, before and after scenarios, and detailed comparisons against your competitors.
Just make sure that all your claims are true and verifiable. Always maintain a good reputation.
6) Show Them "What's In It For Them"
This is the most important thing to remember when persuading anyone. People are self-centered. They always put their own well-being before others.
No matter how close you are to becoming like them or how overwhelming your evidence is, if it does not satisfy the "What's In It For Me?" test, your persuasion efforts will not produce satisfactory results.
If you can prove that your proposal will provide more advantageous benefits to them than to you, they are more likely to accept it.
7) Genuinely Care For Them
Focus more on their interests, desires, needs, and expectations, so you can satisfy their craving for attention, and establish mutual trust and respect.
It also shows that you really care about them and that will make them more likely to trust you and want to work with you.
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Priya Shah is an internet publisher and writes the Marketing Slave blog. Click here for free self improvement tips and books.
This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
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