Y’all. I’m too excited to introduce Chasing Whimsy’s newest contributing editor: Kelly.

She was my soul sister the first year I lived in my Sorority house, and continues to inspire me with her gritty optimism and lady boss vibes. After being a National Consultant for the past 2 years traveling around the country, Kelly has learned a thing or two about being a young professional and has gathered her thoughts in a witty, honest and convenient 9 point list for you to enjoy.

*caveat to her #5 life lesson: Once Kelly and I were taking a walk and we wandered by some college guys throwing knifes at a tree. When asked if we wanted a try Kelly’s immediate response was “Sure! I’ll try anything once!”

Thanks for being you Kelly!

“I’m a dreamer. I’m a full-fledged, starry-eyed romantic. Call me basic, I am inspired by quiet moments in a coffee shop and idol Instagram accounts that leave me lusting for a new wardrobe or a brighter filter on my camera.”

I still believe that Starbucks and yoga pants have magical powers and that if I pin enough killer DIYs on Pinterest they will show in my apartment. PSA: They don’t.

I’ve known since I was young that business and innovation gave me the feels. Straight up feels. Like when I was 8 I cooked some grass and flower petals in the microwave thinking I could make and sell potpourri as a side hustle to elementary school. Business has always been “it”. Now, I am sure most of you don’t get the same feels from branding and trend analysis that I do, but in some other form or fashion you know what I mean. I’ve known since “day one” that I am an entrepreneur.

Fast forward to the past two years, in my first “real world” position, where a part of that starry-eyed dreamer died. But I’m actually thankful for that. Here’s why: I learned who I was under intense pressure and a feeling of insecurity.

I learned some of the most valuable lessons to date. Here’s where I share it in a “Top 9” list for easy reading because I’ve noticed all the cool bloggers do it, and I am all about that cool factor. Here is where I share my “knowledge” or rather, teachings that the world served me on a big, shiny platter whether I was hungry or not.

1. Stop apologizing so damn much.

Seriously. Stop saying “sorry”. Are you really sorry that someone ran into you while getting on the elevator? Are you really sorry that you spoke at the same time someone else spoke? No. Don’t trick your mind into thinking you are less and you have made a mistake. Don’t belittle your perfectly well-intentioned actions. Don’t preface an intelligent, confident statement by apologizing. Get it out of your verbiage now. Are you sorry you need to say something? Yes? Then don’t say it.

2. Hustle.

One thing I developed more than any other in my past two years as a traveling consultant is plain hustle. Raw, on your hands & knees, willingness to get dirty and make things function at an above-average rate, HUSTLE. Not many post-grad 20-somethings can say they know how to truly work. We work for the weekends. We work so that we can have that 5pm Happy Hour and go to  brunch on Sundays, get day-drunk, take a slew of Instagram pics and start it all over again on Monday morning. Learn to work harder than anyone you know. If I have no applicable skills going into a new role, I know I will knock their socks off by how hard I am willing to work. How physically, mentally, and emotionally magnanimous I will be to get the job done. Plain and simple. No job will give you strict, minute-to-minute direction so learn how to maximize your effectiveness and ultra-succeed at a given task. Be the first to volunteer to stay late or work on an additional project. Hustle hard.

3. Fake it ‘til you make it.

You will never be 100%, undoubtedly qualified or prepared for ANY position that will take you in the direction of your goals. Never. Don’t think you are being practical when you are really just scared. Apply for that job that you don’t quite qualify for. Why? Because you have hustle. You have hustle and grit and you are willing to work hard and learn hard. You need to know Excel? Then you now know Excel. Call your techie friend or get on Google and watch enough You-Tube videos to make yourself proficient. You have to use your resources. How did my mom learn how to use snapchat? She googled it and now she’s a f***ing wizard snapchatter. You can be too.

4. Know yourself.

Emotional intelligence is without a doubt one of the single-most undervalued qualities of a person. What is emotional intelligence? To me, it is the ability to look introspectively and understand what motivates you, what you truly care about and what your shortcomings are. It’s about being courageously honest with oneself. What are you good at? What are you not-so-good at? I’ve spent so much time focusing on the skills that others had that I do not. My goal right now is to be 100%, unfailingly loyal to me. Focus on what you are good at. Capitalize on THAT.

5. Just try it.

Learn how to say yes to yourself more. Deep down you know what you need to do to get to the next level. You know you need to network more, call a mentor, take that fitness class you know you’ll look like a freak at. What’s the worst that can happen? All the great things that have happened in my life came from trying something I didn’t think I was fit for.

6. Speak up.

Sometimes you know what you are talking about, and sometimes you might be wrong and that’s okay, too. Don’t be afraid to question the big wigs. You might have an idea they didn’t think of. Be confident in what you bring to the table, most won’t speak up. They follow the herd because that’s “how it’s always been done”, but what if you have a game-changing idea that could really improve something? Or maybe your boss didn’t know that you felt undervalued and could be given more responsibility? You have no right to go home at the end of the day and complain about your current situation if you are not willing to do something about it. Do yourself a favor and speak up.

7.“Sometimes you just have to put on lip gloss and pretend to be psyched.” –Mindy Kaling All the yeses. You don’t always want to do everything and be everything. But put a smile on your face and pull up your sleeves.

8. Feel the feels.

With all this hyper-feminism in the air, we as women are conditioned to keep our feelings to ourselves and learn to suffocate any ounce of vulnerability. Or is it the opposite? Feminism confuses me. Telling someone they shouldn’t be upset because someone has it worse is like saying someone shouldn’t be happy because someone has it better. Be willing to be vulnerable with yourself and know when you need to step back and re-evaluate. You aren’t crazy for having standards. My mom always told me, “if you aren’t happy where you are, do something about it”. Amen, Sister. Feel it, because it’s probably your intuition trying to tell you something.

9. ASK FOR IT.

By far one of the greatest pieces of advice I have ever stumbled upon and I can give to you. Ask for it. Most of the time, no one else is willing to. You want to be the one assigned to the big project? Ask for it. You want a new responsibility? Ask for it. I’ve had some of the most incredible life opportunities because I was the weirdo that asked for it. I asked my boss to move me to Boston for my job. You know what she said? “I’m so glad you asked.” There is merit in telling someone what skills you can bring to the table and how whole-heartedly, “can’t-eat, can’t-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series” kind of thrilled you are about the idea of doing something. Why keep that kind of charisma to yourself? Doesn’t everyone want THAT person? I recently sent a pathetic “I’m a starving 20-something” email asking an internationally-renowned business summit if I could volunteer some old fashion hard work in exchange for the $450 entry fee to see some of my favorite entrepreneurs speak and attend their workshops. You know what they said? “I’m so glad you asked.” (Well isn’t that nifty?) Stop wasting away, crossing your fingers and wishing for things to happen to you. Make it happen to you. Remember – what’s the absolute worst thing that can happen? You are told no. Are you really afraid of that? I didn’t think so.

 

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