Here are the titbits of This Past Week.
If I had to boil down last seven days, it would all come down to effort and hard work. Positive change happens when you push through what you thought was possible, change what you believe about yourself and essentially, take control of your life. All being said, positive change also includes making ‘play’ an essential part of your life.
How To Overcome The Talent Trap & Pull Through Your Limits
Richard Feynman, American theoretical physicist, once said that he is just an ordinary guy who works hard. Feynman knew that human potential is unknown and unknowable, that’s it’s impossible to foresee what can be accomplished and that the way to progress is to cultivate your qualities through efforts, strategies and help from others. If Feynman relied only on his talent, he’d be asking himself in every situation: Will I succeed or fail? Will I look smart or dumb? Will I be accepted or rejected? He’d fall into the talent trap, the belief that talent doesn’t require effort.
How To Feel Good About Yourself
Sharon Stone (American actress) said she had no idea how to dress nor what looked good on her before she met Ellen Mirojnick, a Hollywood costume designer on the set of Basic Instinct. Stone said that Mirojnick transformed how she saw herself and the way she dressed forever. The way you dress is more than a style, it’s a form of self-care. It influences how you feel about yourself, and how others feel about you. So before you choose what to wear next Monday ask yourself: “How do I want to feel today?”
Not sure what to wear for work? Here is a short guide to corporate dressing:
How To Increase Luck in Your Life
Successful people who took risks and made it often say that they just got lucky. But research suggests that luck isn’t random. You can start creating luck for yourself, by yourself. Luck is the result of the choices you make and chances that you take. To start creating your luck prepare your mind: define your core values, your skills, the story about yourself and your goals. In the second stage, involve other people, realise that goals are ever achieved on your own. In the third stage take risks, deal with uncertainty, experiment and learn.
For more information read Dr. Tina Seelig Book ‘What I wish I Knew About Luck, Harper One, 2026.
The One Skills That Gets You Noticed
How many times have you been caught off guard when asked a question? How many times you wish you responded with authority? If you can invest in anything, invest in your impromptu speaking skills. The objective is to train answering questions or delivering ideas as calmly, clearly and quickly as possible. Here are three exercises: pick a random topic and talk about it for a minute. Pick your area of expertise and explain it in 3-2-1 minutes until you boil it down to its essence. Join a group where you can present and get a feedback.
For more tips read on Improptu Speaking
The Messy Part That You Can Overcome
Most of us see achievement of our goals as a straight line. First we know what we want and why we want it, we then apply the discipline and the behaviours to get us there. But if you ever struggled to achieve your goals, you know it’s more complicated. This messy part usually has to do with your beliefs. Notice, which beliefs keep you going and which keep you stuck? Ask yourself: “Does this belief serve me?” Your beliefs are tools and not facts that you can change.
Read: Nir Eyal Beyond Beliefs: The Science Based Way To Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results. Penguin. 2026.
The Path To Your Self-Confidence
The more you believe that your actions influence the outcomes you want to produce, the more confident you are. To increase your self-confidence you essentially have to increase your self efficacy. There are four proven ways to self-efficacy: calming your nervous system, getting honest and supportive feedback, modelling the person ‘one step ahead’ of you and mastering an assignment. Now create a list of one exercise that clears you mind, one person that supports you when things go well for you, one person that you admire and spire to be like, and one task you have been delaying but if you started it, could potentially change your life.
Don’t Forget To Play
When was the last time you truly, fully played? Had fun? Did something for yourself and recharged? Enjoyed yourself so much that it was hard to get back to work but, at the same time, you looked forward to restarting again? What would it take to make that kind of play part of your life?
What has changed for you this past week?
Write to welcome@standoutjane.com and share the changes and aspirations from your own life and work.
Bon Weekend.
Image:
Alamy, Demi Moore in A Few Good Men, 1992.