It’s hard to stand out in a world as competitive as the one we live in. When 500 candidates are going for the same job as you, how can you ever expect your resume to be the one that’s noticed in the stack? And jobs are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many instances when it feels like you’re doing cartwheels trying to get attention, only to realize that the person next to you is doing backhand springs. Cool.
We’re not trying to be Debbie Downers here. In fact, we think that there are some great ways you can help yourself stand out among the rest without hurting yourself trying to do a million cartwheels in the process. Here’s our advice!
Kindness counts.
You could be the smartest, funniest, coolest person in the room, but are you the kindest? A study found that when searching for a future partner, kindness was the most sought-after trait overall. So, if you want to stand out to not only a potential spouse, but also to pretty much everyone else in the world, be nice to people. Here are a few ways to show a little extra kindness:
- Invite someone to sit with you at lunch (it’s not just the high school lunchroom, this could happen anywhere).
- Bring donuts for the office, just because.
- Say “please” and “thank you” (we could all use a reminder!).
- Carry someone else’s bags for them.
Small acts of kindness stick with people far longer than you might think. So, go out of your way to do something good for someone else today. It’s free!
Focus on attitude.
People naturally gravitate toward those who give off good energy, so make sure you’re bringing it! A study found that attitudes, both positive and negative, can be passed along to the people around you. That’s why it’s so important to show up with a smile as often as possible!
We know that there will always be days when you just feel … blah. And as much as you try to be happy on those days (or weeks, or months), you just can’t seem to get out of your funk. This is normal, and it happens to even the most positive people on the planet. You may just need to ride it out, but you could also try some of these hacks to improve your mood in less than 5 minutes!
Be yourself.
Ah, the oldest cliché in the world, but it’s so very true. Remaining authentic is the most natural way to set yourself apart from the rest. And the best part? It doesn’t require you to do anything except for just being who you are (no cartwheels involved here). After all, how can you ever expect to stand out if you’re constantly trying to do what everyone else is doing? Here are a few ways to focus more on being yourself:
- Don’t be afraid to say no to things you don’t want to do.
- Say what you mean.
- Spend quality time with yourself (meditation, reading, workouts—the options are endless!).
- Read books on self-love (check out a few popular ones here).
As humans, we have a natural desire to be liked and accepted. For this reason, we push ourselves to become something that we’re not just to fit the mold of what’s “cool.” But standing out is all about breaking that mold and just being you. You’ll find it’s a lot more comfortable than trying to be someone else, anyway.
Stand out and shine!
Standing out shouldn’t mean pushing others down in order to claim your success. In fact, there are some ways to set yourself apart while still knowing that there’s room for everyone to shine. Focus on becoming the very best version of you … the rest will fall into place.
Looking for a few more ways to improve your life? Read our blog post here all about “Four Habits for Productivity.”
