I know what you’re thinking, “Whoa 63 things?! I’ll just read this and skip the book.” Or maybe you’re thinking, “ohhhhh Aliza’s going to be pissed that this Allyn chick is spilling her secrets.” Both are wrong, and in fact, it’s really quite the opposite. By sharing these things with you, I’m going to cultivate your thirst for reading this book because this is only maybe 1/80th of what you will learn.
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I also think I’m going to make reading this book an application requirement when posting any new job openings for my business from this point forward. Seriously. Read it. No matter who you are or where you’re at in your life, I promise this book is filled with incredible value that is applicable to any situation. Without further adieu, here are just a few reasons why I loved Leave Your Mark:
1. Great communicators focus on “we” not “me”.
2. Coffee dates don’t have to happen face to face.
3. I’m not the only girl who spent her college years mastering neuroscience and tackling organic chemistry only to fall in love with fashion and PR.
4. If you have no one to show you the ropes, you have to build a ladder.
5. Selfies can actually be really valuable when used correctly (and not in the sense of your outfit or Kendall Jenner lip success going viral)
6. Mastheads are incredibly valuable.
7. Remove “To Whom It May Concern” from vocab.
8. When you feel like you’re going nowhere, learn more.
9. Accomplishments are more impressive when you can give a statistic.
10. Every task serves the bigger picture.
11. Honesty works.
12. Calibrate your behavior based on cues from people in the room who are more important than you. Be aware of the reactions you’re getting when putting yourself out there. Adjust accordingly.
14. You’re responsible for your own pats on the back. Don’t expect them.
15. Fairy godmothers (or godfathers) are actually real and not just seen in fairy tales.
16. When the going gets tough, ground yourself with a reminder of your intention.
17. You are in charge of what comes out of your mouth.
18. People generally want cocky people to fail. Confident is the better choice of the two. Always.
19. Show, don’t tell >>> Show and tell
20. Confirmed: There are indeed stupid questions. Don’t ask things you can find answers to on the internet.
21. If you can’t give someone the answer they are looking for at that moment, turn the tables on them. Ask your own questions. Get them to talk about themselves, people love that.
22. Being surrounded by a thousand pairs of designer shoes isn’t always as glamorous as it my sound.
23. Accessibility makes you indispensable. Apply as needed.
24. Don’t compromise your standards just because someone else doesn’t have any.
25. There is much to learn from Olivia Pope.
26. You have to fight for yourself. No one else is going to do it for you.
27. When in doubt, get it in writing. Paper trails people!
28. Third party credibility.
29. Learn to judge current circumstances based on their future potential.
30. Organic choices are also healthy outside of the food store.
31. Never let a sample lie idle.
32. People will go out of their way to do business with people they like.
33. Your name matters more than your title or the company you work for.
34. There is no excuse not to network.
35. Never ignore an opportunity.
36. To avoid accidentally sending half-written or unpolished emails, don’t fill in the “to” section until the content is perfected.
37. There are multiple ways to get your point across. Choose strategically.
38. Don’t give anyone the opportunity to start mentally thinking about life without you.
39. Body language matters. Be aware of what your body does when your mind isn’t thinking.
40. Butt facials exist.
41. The first of anything is rarely impressive.
42. Every tweet (and social media post) is an “on the record” comment.
43. Contarary to popular belief, social media can make us more in tune with our surroundings.
44. Research the rules before you decide to enter the game.
45. Your brand doesn’t need to be everywhere to be successful.
46. No one ever wins when they fight online.
47. Keep social media content anti-flammable.
48. Build a community before you need one.
49. There’s no need to be perfect. People can’t relate to perfection.
50. Failure isn’t always negative.
51. Deleting things makes people feel uncomfortable.
52. You are your best publicist (regardless if you’re in the field of PR or not).
53. People judge you based off of what they see and how they feel when they meet you.
54. Repetition generates your reputation.
55. I need to find a signature style item.
56. Your style needs to empower you to take on the world each day.
57. Make a point to help others achieve what they would not have been able to achieve on their own.
58. The more people you help, the bigger your network is.
59. Be able to contribute to ANY conversation.
60. If you’re going to be mingling with people later, be up to speed with the world news for the day.
61. Expand your circle beyond your industry. You can’t learn from people who know the exact same things you do.
62. If you’ve been given the luxury of education and experience, it’s your obligation to share your knowledge.
63. Change isn’t supposed to be comfortable.
Grab your copy of Leave Your Mark on Amazon and be sure to follow Aliza on Twitter!