Tag: Ambition

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The Freelance Mindset 

focused young ethnic woman with credit card and laptop

It’s a Lifestyle

Being a freelancer is a unique experience that has its own set of challenges, but there are also many benefits to being an independent worker. Being your own boss means you get to set your own hours and work on projects that interest you most, but it also comes with its own unique challenges — namely, the fact that you have no one else to rely on if things go wrong. However, if you approach being self-employed with the right mindset (and some good habits), then this type of lifestyle can be extremely satisfying and rewarding.

Be A Self-Motivator

The freelance mindset is not just about being motivated to do the work, it’s also about being a self-motivator.

You need to be able to motivate yourself when working hard isn’t fun anymore and you feel like giving up because guess what, at the end of the day work is still work even if you enjoy more than the 9–5 life.

You need motivation because sometimes it can be really easy not work hard at all, but if you want great results and high client satisfaction ratings (which will lead directly into more business), then these are some of the moments where you need extreme levels of motivation that come from within yourself instead of coming from an external source like another person or company pressuring you into doing things they way they want them done (or even worse yet: doing something wrong).

Don’t Expect The World To Work Like You Do

The world is not going to work like you do, and that’s okay.

You need to be flexible, adaptable, and willing to change your mind. You have to take criticism well because there will be plenty of it; if you can’t handle criticism then this job isn’t for you. But, that is not a bad thing because criticism can help you improve your abilities and learn. You also need a thick skin (not literally). The world is an unpredictable place — you can’t predict what people are going to say or how they’re going to act — so don’t expect the world around you or other people’s actions always fit neatly into boxes that make sense according the way your brain works. Be ready for anything!

Take Time To Reflect

It is important to take time to reflect, for two main reasons:

You need to understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can optimize your performance.

It allows you to see things from the perspective of other people and business owners, which leads to better solutions. Some people call this process “thinking outside of the box” or “looking at things from different angles.”

To think about how best to approach reflection, let’s compare two different scenarios: scenario one is with no reflection; scenario two involves taking time out after each project or task has been completed, asking yourself a few questions, then coming back later with answers in mind when it comes time for review (this process can be repeated several times per day). Now imagine which scenario would lead toward more effective problem-solving and more positive results overall? I think that we all know the answer.

Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart Too

It’s not enough to work hard. You also have to work smart.

You can do all the work in the world, but if it’s not organized and you don’t schedule time for breaks, then you’ll burn out before your project is even half-finished. Trust me! I have done this a few times since I have been successfully freelancing for a year now. This is why it’s important to set goals and take regular breaks from your computer screen every few hours. It’s also important that you’re always using good equipment; keep a journal of what works best for you so that next time something goes wrong with your computer or phone or tablet, there will be no need for panic because everything has been documented ahead of time!

Always Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is a key part of being a successful freelancer. You need to be able to react quickly and adapt your schedule when the unexpected happens, but planning ahead is also an important part of the freelance mindset. Planning ahead means thinking about the future, and this can help you see what’s coming so you can prepare yourself for anything.

Take time to think about what lies ahead in your career or business goals, even if it’s just “What do I want to achieve next year?”, “What do I want to achieve in 5 years?”, and “What do I want to achieve in 10 years?” If you know where your freelancing career is heading and what steps are necessary to get there, then when someone asks if you have any plans for next week or next month (or next year), it will sound like music to their ears.

You are your own boss, which means you need to react like one.

You are your own boss, which means you need to react like one. As a freelancer, you don’t have anyone else to tell you what to do and when to do it.

You may think that being a freelancer is all about the money and getting paid well for doing work that you love (or at least love doing). You might think this because it’s how people sell being a freelancer online or through podcasts — but it’s not true! Just like any other job out there, being a freelancer isn’t always sunshine and rainbows; sometimes it can be downright difficult. The difference between those who succeed in their careers and those who fail has nothing to do with how hard they work or even how talented they are; instead, the key lies within their mindset: their ability to motivate themselves through difficult times; as well as their ability motivate others around them when things get tough as well…

This is only the Beginning

In the end, if you’re going to have a successful freelance career, it’s essential that you know what type of mindset will work for you and how to get into that mindset. The most important thing you can do is put yourself in a situation where you are constantly learning and growing as a freelancer. If this sounds like something that fits your life, then go out there and get started!

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The Ballerina Paradox

Photo from Unsplash by Wan Chen

It Starts with One Single Step

Once upon a time there was a little girl who wanted to be a ballerina. The average ballerina would spend about 8-10 years to train and become a professional. From the simple 2-3 classes a week, by the time they are midway through their training they are practicing 13-15 times a week at minimum. She knew it would be difficult and she would spend most of her time practicing but, she loved it with all of her heart. Most people can appreciate the elegant ways in which a ballerina can present herself on stage but, they do not think about the years of training, the intense competition that she may have faced, and the pain she feels in her feet every now and then by pushing her to the limit. Nonetheless, she continued to dance, she continued to persevere through it all, and she pushed herself to be the best that she can be. Something so beautiful is born from someone’s ambition and hard work. So with that said, what is the Ballerina Paradox?

Comfort versus Passion

Comfort is one of the primary things that we need for our survival, the basics include: food, shelter, water, sex, and sleep. Fairly straightforward and simple. When we are born, we learn to crawl, walk, and speak the language in our household. We are sent to school where we are taught by our teachers the basics that we will need in order to be successful in society. We are then given the option to go to university or begin working in various fields. We are comfortable in a university setting or a newbie in the workforce because we have someone guiding us and then we eventually get into the flow of things. We are able to provide for ourselves and supply ourselves with things we wish we could have had. With that being said once we have had our comfort, how do we find our passion? The big difference between passion and comfort is that passion requires more self discipline and drive to be an autodidact. The passion comes from the willingness to fail and be your own teacher in the field that you are interested in. No one really wakes up one day and is successful writer, YouTuber, or entrepreneur (they can but, it is an extremely rare exception to the rule); it takes a person a significant amount of failures and years of practice to perfect the thing that makes them smile, that gives them a natural dopamine rush when they see results, that part of them that they are willing to share with the world. 

Dare to Dream

No one is saying that you automatically know what you are passionate about on the spot. It takes a deep dive into your interests and curiosity to truly understand where your passion comes from. Maybe you need to take some time and look through old photos from your childhood to the times that you use to paint, play soccer, or sing in your local choir. Maybe you are going to spend hours looking at videos on YouTube about how to start your own SoundCloud or your own Etsy shop making organic soap (I don’t judge). It takes some trial and error to figure out what you would be willing to sacrifice your time for. Once we discover our passion we then become the ballerina, trying and learning endlessly about how we can improve to be the best at the thing that we love. It just takes hard work, dedication, and the drive to take the risk on yourself. 

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The Psychology of the Underdog

Photo by DISRUPTIVO on Unsplash

They have always had the odds stacked against them but, when push comes to shove, they always keep trying their best; the underdog knows that their chances of victory are small but, for them they just need to know that they have a chance to keep going. We have seen this is a number of tv shows and movies. They have a sense of optimism and positivity knowing that they can only get better given their circumstances. This can sometimes lead to them feeling like they need to live up to an idea of perfectionism, which can make them heavily rely on vices to cope with these feelings. And when they are at their best, they are hardworking, appreciative, and confident in everything they do. This is a brief overview of the modern-day underdog and how we all can relate to them.

The underdog usually comes from a rough, disadvantaged background such as the result of a teenage pregnancy, an undocumented family, family with little to no financial stability, etc. We see this on tv shows like Shameless with characterLip Gallagher born to two parents who are addicts, raised by his older sister; and characters like Amy from Superstore who is a college dropout turned teen mom. This is also present in biographical movies such as Cinderella Man and Selena They try to make the best of with what they have since they have had to be resourceful most of their life. Selena designed her own outfits for shows due to the lack of funds in her family. Lip would take the SAT’s for fellow classmates if they paid the price to help pay the bills. Their families are often their biggest supporters because they hold the potential of the entire family, everything that individual members could have achieved is placed on them. This makes them the role model or shining star of the family because they are the one who has the chance to change the path for those will come after them.

Most underdogs have huge ambitions; they crave the desire to want more out of life knowing that they have an opportunity to start over. They aren’t just trying to prove something to the masses but, to themselves. This is why their failures are considered catastrophic in their heads, any small mistake can make them feel like they are 10 steps back. Perfectionism can consume them to an unhealthy point. They can often come off as humble, generous, and observant. An excellent example would be the kind and sweet nature that the late Selena Quintanilla was known for to all of her fans and those that encountered her. Always wanting to be “accessible” to those who needed her, even inviting fans on stage to dance with her. They are the friend that will be there for you through hard times and listen to you; sometimes even allowing themselves to be vulnerable to help comfort others. Small acts of kindness are their specialty; attempting to make the world a little more compassionate. They try to be the best at everything whether it be a student, friend, athlete, employee, etc. However, this can cause them to break at a certain point and derail the progress that they have made.

Due to the pressures they put on themselves to succeed because of their background and society, the underdog can dabble in behaviors that can be considered unstable and/or dangerous. This can be heavily due to Roy Baumeister’s Escape Theory; in which an individual engages in behaviors to help them flee the negative perceptions they may have of themselves. They may suffer from mental illness that they often ignore to keep pushing forward and then have difficulty getting out of bed or going to sleep knowing that their main purpose is to solely work hard to become society’s version of successful. Some individuals may turn to alcohol, sex, and drugs as vices in life to alleviate the pressure of perfection they have built into themselves. The high that they start to depend on from sex, drugs, and alcohol can contribute to the digress of their progress and thus dive into more destructive behavior. Take Lip’s spiral in college in season 6 as he begins to drink throughout the day and begin an affair with one of his professors even becoming a cuckolder. Due to the pressures to keep up his grades and maintain a clean record, he ultimately gets himself kicked out of college after his actions catch up to him. A different high that the person relies on is power and control over their life they had been seeking even if it involves turning their backs on the people that supported them from the beginning. This is seen in Superstore’s Amy who begins to jeopardize the staff’s chances of starting a union once she is appointed manager in fear of losing her position. They start to embody the qualities of those who looked down on others like them; sometimes without realizing it. As Will Smith once said, “Don’t let failing go to your heart and don’t let success go to your head.” This can eventually this can lead to them having a lonely life with people who may not genuinely liking them for who they are rather than the ones who cheered them on when they had nothing.

Despite the number of obstacles that they have had, the underdog has goals, confidence, and optimism that we could all use. They are motivated to try to become achieve their full potential. This could be due to motivational psychology theory Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which states that once we achieve our basic needs of safety, access to food and water, as well as intimate relationships, we desire to reach the peak of our potential through self-actualization. They know that they can only go up from where they started and appreciate each accomplishment they earn as they have had to fight to prove themselves. In a way, they represent the anxieties of the upper class; take for instance Cinderella Man; James was a rising boxing star about to take down the champion of the world, Max Baer. Upon meeting at a dinner party, Baer attempts to intimidate James by insisting he not even bother fighting him because he will kill him in the ring having killed two other men during previous matches. Being knocked down from their high status by someone lower than them ultimately strikes fear in top dog knowing how fragile their rank is. But further proving that anyone can raise above

The underdog has always been seen as the least threatening person in the room but, in recent years they are starting to be seen as the person most likely to succeed. The underdog embraces being the underdog because they wouldn’t be who they are without their background. The general public loves to see a breakout story which is why there have been movies made about these people. They try to have a good head on their shoulders and see things in positive but, realistic way. To a certain extent, the underdog symbolizes our own struggles to be the best versions of ourselves and reach our full potential in society even when we have the odds stacked against us. And their confidence? That just makes them sexy.