Motivation Mondays: The Devil Wears Prada

Today’s Motivation Monday post is brought to you by Thought Catalog. If you never visited their site, you really should check it out. They post hysterical articles and tons of random lists that are often applicable to the life of a 20 something. Their posts are guaranteed to improve even the worst days.

A couple of weeks ago, I found a Thought Catalog post titled “15 Life Lessons from “The Devil Wears Prada.” Intrigued, I clicked the link, read their list of tips and found that I agreed with all of them. If you haven’t seen the movie, I’d absolutely check it out this weekend. The quick summary: Anne Hathaway lands her dream job at Runaway, an iconic fashion magazine. She then meets her boss, Meryl Streep and quickly realizes how demanding and challenging her new position is going to be. While some the antics of Hathaway and Streep are a bit exaggerated, there are some helpful pieces of advice for those starting their careers or working at internships.

My favorite points from Thought Catalog include:

1. Never Show Up To Meetings Unprepared.

– No matter how much you hate your boss, position or the work you’re doing, you must come prepared to meetings, presentations, etc. Not being prepared will ultimately cause you more stress than preparing did.

5. When Things Get Hard, Complaining Gets You Nowhere.

– Sure, there will be days when you’re frustrated, when your boss gives you the most ridiculous project to work on and the list goes on and on. Hopefully, the good days outnumber the bad ones. You can vent for a minute or two, but complaining to your co-workers is a bad decision.

10. Appearance Matters, No Matter What Anyone Says.

– This especially holds true when you work at a fashion magazine, like Hathaway does in the movie. However, regardless of where you work, your overall appearance does matter, from head to toe. You are a professional so the way you dress should convey that.

15. An Amazing Job Isn’t Always A Job That Makes You Happy.

– I’ve seen this happen to a bunch of recent graduates. You think job x is your dream job and is going to make you oh so happy. Then you come to find you hate it. Experience is the best teacher, meaning you won’t know what your dream job is until you start working and trying different things. It’s okay to admit you were wrong; it’s trial and error.

When you’re interning or just starting out, you will be asked to do things that you feel are beneath you. But remember, respect isn’t given, it’s earned. You have to prove yourself…everyone started out the same way. Some days will be better than others and you’ll work well with some bosses and not so well with others. Don’t let one experience define the rest and keep searching until you find what makes you truly happen. Never settle!

Check out the rest of Thought Catalog’s lessons from The Devil Wears Prada here. Share your own advice too!

Dressing the Part

As mentioned previously, I often contemplate different aspects of the working world. As a young professional just starting out, you want to stand out and prove yourself. This means everything, from big things like completing assignments on time to little things, like how you dress. Whether you like it or not, your image at work absolutely matters.

Dressing professionally is a skill, one that takes time to develop. I am, by no means, a fashion expert. But, in these few short months, I’ve picked up a couple of tips on how to dress the part.

1. Outfit: Absolutely embrace your own style and be comfortable. But comfortable doesn’t translate into sloppy. Make sure you are wrinkle and lint free and without rips or stains. Make sure you match; black and navy blue aren’t the same. Ladies, skirt length is important, watch anything too far above the knee. My biggest secret: the power of the blazer; it instantly dresses up any outfit.

2. Accessories: I love accessorizing my outfits. I try to match my shoes and purse but it isn’t necessarily a must. Shoes shouldn’t be too worn and bags should be able to close, especially if you are a commuter. For jewelry, bold, colorful pieces are fun but keep it balanced. If you have on a big necklace, don’t wear giant earrings. Anything you’d wear (or have worn) to a club is probably out.

3. Hair: My hair has a mind of its own so this is probably the hardest aspect of my image. Keep it simple and tamed, as much as possible. Of course, sometimes the weather gets in the way. For more advice on how to weather-proof your outfit, check out Levo League’s tips. Gentlemen, your facial hair needs to be cleaned up regularly. A modest beard is fine but looking like Wolverine isn’t.

4. Make-up: Again, stay true to your own style but don’t take it too far. You can wear colorful eye shadow but be careful on how much you apply. Check your face before meetings for smudges. If make-up isn’t your thing, that’s fine but face moisturizer is a good idea for men and women alike.

These are just a few tips I found helpful when dressing for the workplace. Before I leave the house each day, I ask myself: Would I want to talk to this person solely based on their appearance. I know that sounds a bit shallow, but how you dress for work does matter. People who don’t know you based their initial judgement off of your appearance. Additionally, dressing well makes you feel empowered and gives you an extra boost in confidence. Your image becomes a part of your personal brand.

Do you agree with my tips above? Is there anything you’d add? Share your thoughts!