New Branding for My Birthday!

Amanda Abella — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:06:13 +0000

Happy Monday Fireballs!

Sometime this week if you head over to the blog you’ll see that the site will be down. No, nothing is going to crash and the blog isn’t dying; we’re just undergoing a totally new branding thanks to Rachael at RKA Ink!

This has been two months in the making and I am SO PSYCHED that it’s finally happening! I put together an awesome team of designers, coaches and even music composers to bring you all a new user friendly and beautiful site. After all, it was definitely time for an upgrade.

And for the record, Grad Meets World will simply just be AmandaAbella.com. We’re no longer just out of college and the new name allows for even bigger possibilities! Don’t worry though; you’ll still be getting advice and resources for your career, personal finances, relationships and more! The only thing that is changing is the name.

And guess what – we’re officially launching on my 25^th birthday! Set your calendars for March 31^st! So let the countdown begin! Head over to http://www.amandaabella.com and start sharing the love! Plus, if you sign up for the email list you'll get the recording to my #FIREgoals workshop + the FIREball Tool Kit for free!

How about a birthday gift? Help me spread the word!

I’ve made these cut and paste social media updates for your sharing pleasure. Please help us spread the word about the new site launch! The more people we can reach with an empowering message the better we can make the world, one step at a time!

Twitter:

@amandaabella is launching her new site & she’s giving away goodies! Video recording of her #FIREgoals workshop + 30 day guide! Sign up here: http://bit.ly/X8JEXz Buffertweetable text

Grad Meets World is being totally rebranded by @amandaabella! Check out the new site on March 31^st + sign up for updates! http://bit.ly/X8JEXz

Want to rock your goals? @amandaabella is giving away her #FIREgoals workshop recording + 30 day guide for free! Sign up here: http://bit.ly/X8JEXz

Is your job sucking the life out of you? @amandaabella can help with her FREE #FIREGoals workshop recording! Sign up here: http://bit.ly/X8JEXz

Facebook:

My awesome friend and blogger Amanda Abella is rebranding @GradMeetsWorld and re-launching on her birthday, March 31^st! She’s celebrating by giving away a free video recording of her live #FIREgoals workshop and a 30 day guide that will set fire to your life! Sign up here to get your copy: http://bit.ly/X8JEXz

Thank you all for the amazing support you’ve shown over the years! I cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes us next!

Boy did a I get a talkin' to then! I'm paraphrasing here but from my end it sounded a little something like this "Amanda, it IS a big deal to you. You've put your heart and soul into this. You are potentially setting yourself up for the rest of your career - the rest of your life! And you are putting yourself out there! So give yourself credit where credit is due! Own it!"

I had flashbacks at that moment. Flashbacks about how I shied away and didn't let myself shine - at my job, among my peers, with my business, with this blog and ESPECIALLY in my romantic relationships. To be honest I was kind of disgusted with myself. What the hell was the point of shying away? To be more liked? So I could stay in a relationship? To play by the status quo? None of that worked out anyway!

Suddenly I could see what the REAL point of this workshop was. I needed to own my awesomeness and I sure as hell need to teach other people to do the same.

Granted, Coach Jennie did not push me as a means of adding pressure. This was to show me that I need to be unapologetic about my awesomeness. And it's something we all need to learn how to do - in our careers, with our partners, with our passions, in our businesses, with the people we choose to surround ourselves with, etc. etc. etc.

So how do we do that?

1. Release the need for perfection.

No one is perfect. And pretending like we are is so inauthentic people can smell it. We may not feel like we're "perfectionists", but we'll easily start shying away or changing things about ourselves in order to be liked. We feel like we need to be perfect in someone else's eyes.

This is a total waste of our talents. What's the point of being liked if we're not being honest with ourselves? And what's the point of not being honest with ourselves if we feel like frauds?

Think about it.

2. Get over the idea that people want you to fail.

No one wants you to fail. And if they do then that's a problem they have and it has nothing to do with you.

On the contrary, people WANT you to succeed! They WANT you to do well! They WANT you to own your gifts!

As someone who sits on the other side of job interviews I can tell you from first hand experience that I don't want any of the job candidates to do poorly. I want them to do well! I want them to be hireable! I want them to knock it out of the damn ball park! Otherwise hiring managers, your boss, companies, partners, whoever have to keep freakin' looking!

3. "Whether you can or you can't you're right."

Leave it to Henry Ford to hit you with a statement so simple yet so true. You are what you believe. If you really believe you can't do something then you're only going to prove yourself right.

Try something different this week. Try changing your language. Change your words from "I can't" to "How can I?" It makes a world of difference when you live in the land of possibility.

4. Realize that you always have a choice.

This statement was a driving force behind my workshop last week. It was the one thing I really wanted people to get - no matter what is going on outside of you, you always have a choice in life.

You make the rules.

You call the shots.

You can choose whether or not to own your awesomness.

You choose how to love yourself.

You choose how to see circumstances.

You choose how to create your life.

With that being said enjoy the video of my workshop!

For more information about coaching or speaking feel free to shoot me an email.

maybe even worse at times. Moral of the story: clubbing clothes do not equal career clothes.

Does this mean you have to go all boring corporate? Of course not! Trust me, I hate boring (and uncomfortable) office attire as much as the next person.

The good news is there are a ton of ways to rock some awesome fashion in the office. And the best part? You can do it WITHOUT breaking the bank.

There's always an opportunity to add a pop of color or some spunk to the typical black and khakis of corporate life. For instance, ladies can wear a nice dress in a unique color and then tone it down with neutral heels. (My inner rocker child couldn't do just plain neutral so I've got some spikes for added flair). This works for the office, a presentation or heading out to happy hour afterward. Cute and versatile! (Only thing missing is a cute belt - I'm working on it!)

The guys don't usually get into much fashion trouble as the girls do, but there's definitely some stuff you all should keep in mind.

Gentlemen shouldn't be looking like a hot mess either, and I don't want to hear the excuse that you don't have as many options as girls do. In fact you can do very similar things by paring a neutral suit with a pop of color for your dress shirt or tie. And for the record guys, jeans are not okay for job interviews. Unfortunately I've seen quite a few of you make this mistake and I really really wish you wouldn't. Also make sure your clothes are well fitted, comb your hair and shave to be on the safe side (kind of old school I know, but better safe than sorry.)

And this applies for the both of you - don't go for cheap looking, poorly made clothes! This is definitely something I've needed to get used to (as has my wallet) in my post college days. Sure, the places we shopped at as teenagers and broke college kids have fun stuff for not very much money, but unfortunately you tend to sacrifice quality much of the time.

(Don't worry Forever 21, you will always have a special place in my heart.)

Good news - There are ways around the ridiculous price tags, since now instead of being broke college kids we're 20something professionals. We've got job interviews, meetings, networking events, lunch meetings, you name it! We've got to look snazzy while we embark on this journey!

Below you will find some of my favorite places to find better quality, unique and fun attire for the office without having to sell your body to science.

HauteLook (Men and Women)

I am obsessed with Hautelook. In fact, I don't think I have shopped for clothes anywhere else since I discovered this amazing site. Everyday at 8AM Pacific you can find new sales from some great brands at up to 75% off the original price. Best of all - membership is totally free! I can honestly say that the majority of my work wardrobe - and definitely some of my favorite pieces - have come from this site.

(Sometimes shipping can be a bit pricey, but it's totally worth it!)

ShoeDazzle and ShoeMint (Women)

All us ladies know how expensive shoes can get - especially those that are currently in style. While I fervently believe every woman needs a pair of comfy black heels, sometimes we have to switch it up a bit. And with all the options out there it's enough for a shoe overdose!

Enter Shoedazzle and ShoeMint. Two sites totally dedicated to hot accessories at a price that won't break the bank. And yes, while the shoes do require you to break into them, over time they actually get much comfier (unlike their uber cheap counterparts that always make you want to chop your feet off at the ankle no matter how many times you wear them).

Ideeli (Women)

Another great site that features fun trends at great prices! Also has a spectacular referral program that gives you a $25 credit when your friends make their first purchase.

Birchbox (Men and Women)

Personal grooming is important too! You don't want to walk into an interview without looking great! Birchbox is by far my favorite monthly subscription box - so much in fact that I had cancelled and ended up coming back to it. I have found some of my favorite products thanks to this little box and they also have a great selection of men's personal care products!

Dappered.com (Men)

A site dedicated completely to affordable style for men! Fellas, you have to look good too! A huge thanks to one of our male readers for suggesting this site!

Primer Magazine (Men)

Another awesome men's style site recommended by a friend. Also includes self-development articles and how-to's. Pretty nifty site, I'm not gonna lie.

Michelle Phan, Jessica Harlow and Andrea's Choice (Make-Up/Personal Care)

Ladies, sometimes you need to learn the proper way to use makeup. Just because a certain eyeshadow shade exists doesn't mean you should slap it on your face. They even have a couple of videos for male grooming. Highly recommend checking these gals out!

And that's it! Where do you find sweet deals on more professional attire? Share in the comments below!

And don't forget...

My first ever LIVE coaching workshop is on Wednesday March 13th at 6:30PM! I've teamed up with The Levo League to create a dynamic workshop that will have you shakin' and groovin' (literally) as we get clear about your goals and what's stopping you from going after them. Plus, you'll get the number one tool I use with ALL of my coaching clients to help them bust through blocks. And guess what? It's a free tool you can use ALL THE TIME! The event is also 100% free!

Click here for more info.

In Person RSVP:

When: Wednesday, March 13th 6:30-8:30PM EST
Where: MiamiShared, West Side Event Space (990 Biscayne Blvd, Office 503, Miami, FL 33132)

RSVP Here.

Online RSVP:

For those of you who don't live Miami we will be livestreaming the event. Click here to subscribe to the GMW Ustream Channel.

Hope to see you guys in person and online!

Just recently Diana launched her first ebook Unleashed: Live the Balanced, Centered and Sexy Life You Deserve and it quickly became a best seller on Amazon! Some of you have already picked this up, but in case you haven't here's why you should:

1. It's less money than a couple of lattes from Starbucks.

2. This isn't necessarily about dieting or losing weight (though it can definitely help!) - it's about living an overall healthy lifestyle including mind and body.

3. It's a handy guide to keep around for when you fall off the health wagon or need some quick stress busters

4. She gives you effective tools to deal with stress, fear and anxiety! Tools that actually work!

5. She's loving and gentle. This book in no way makes you feel inadequate or suggests you should strive for perfection. The point is to live a better life, not your stress yourself out with trying to create it.

6. She's got an exclusive bonus just for Fireballs - a free 30 Minute "Find Your Center" one-on-one stress busting workshop!

Here are the deets:

Stress sucks. And it's very unsexy.

Your "Find Your Center" 30-minute session is designed to help you figure out what the heck is stressing you out, how to get over it, and move on sooner rather than never.

During your 30 minutes together, you and Diana will:

- Identify what is giving you a headache or elevating your stress levels (read: making you feel like a crazy person) this week.

- Find out how your thoughts are fueling your stress and how to put out the fire.

- Discover the ways you can immediately feel better, breathe easier, and center yourself to conquer your stress and tackle your day.

That's right - for the price of a day at Starbucks you get an awesome guide AND a free half hour coaching session with Diana!

How do you get in on this?

This month's Fireball Bonus is ONLY for email subscribers - current and those who subscribe during the month of March. You will receive instructions all month long on how you can snag this awesome offer!

1. Sign up for the Fireball Newsletter! You can use the form below, on the side bar, below the header or the Pop Up.

2. Check your email for instructions all month long!

3. Current subscribers: Check the sidebar of the weekly blasts for instructions.

I hope you guys get as much fulfillment, joy and happiness out of Diana's work as I have! Here's a to a healthy March!

Forbes article:

What if your manager is downright incompetent? Zofi has a solution for that, too. One of her clients worked at a medical device manufacturing company and reported to the daughter of the owner. The company made sophisticated medical resonance imaging machines that were constructed from parts produced in various countries including India, China and Israel. Overwhelmed by the challenges of coordinating so many disparate sources, the boss became extremely anxious, constantly pestering the employee for information and even interrupting her when she was in meetings or on the phone with long-distance suppliers.

"My client was getting sick over it," Zofi recalls. "It was affecting her personal life. She even thought about going on Prozac." Zofi counseled the employee to assess her boss's erratic personality and come up with a strategy to calm her down. Instead of confronting the boss directly, Zofi's client reached out to the foreign suppliers and gathered information. She wound up creating spreadsheets that laid out the status of each part and when it would come into the manufacturing facility. "She gave her boss a comfort zone," Zofi notes. The strategy worked. In addition, the employee formed good relationships with the suppliers, which helped everything run more smoothly. "She doesn't love her boss," Zofi notes, "but she's still got a job, and she's dealing with it."

Don't ever fuel the fire.

If your boss is having a bad day, pissed at your coworker or just not in the right frame of mind it's definitely not the time to ask for a favor. Also stay away from conversations involving other coworkers or their personal lives. You don't want to fuel any fires and you definitely don't want to end up being a punching bag.

(If you work in a very small office this can be really hard. Just try to your best to notice when your boss goes from business to personal and then steer as far away from it as possible.)

Knowing how your boss functions, paying attention to their managing style, communicating to them in their language, make their lives easier and staying away from drama will help you tremendously as you start moving in your career. Sure, we'd all love to have great bosses, but sometimes even the great ones get on our last nerve. Knowing how effectively manage it, however, is where your power lies.

What are some effective ways you have found for managing your boss? Got any crazy boss stories? Share them in the comments!

Discalced Carmelites? For those of you who don’t know, she was met with loads of adversity and opposition, even within her closest circles! But she still did it! She knew she was on the right track despite the difficulties - and the result? - she wrote beautiful works like The Interior Castle (which I recommend to anyone), was named one of the very few female Doctors of the Catholic Church, whipped the Carmelites into shape and founded her own order of Catholic nuns which is now known worldwide.

I also remembered something one of my favorite authors, Gabby Bernstein, says when people start cracking open and doing some serious work on themselves and discovering what they love - for a while there stuff can be really, really uncomfortable. In fact, things may get way worse before they get better. And this is an awesome sign! It means you are on the right track and your ego is trying desperately to bring you down! Your ego will start pulling out all the stops when you’re on to something amazing and it’s our job to recognize that and keep going.

So, for those of you who are knee deep in self-reflective work, are working toward a massive passion project, or are just starting to figure out who you really are and what you want to do with your life - don’t get disheartened when challenges come up. That just means you are on to something amazing

great stories for social gatherings!

At the 200 interview mark I was starting to notice patterns among people. This was right at the beginning of starting my life coaching certification so I was becoming very aware of the problems people are facing not just on the job hunt, but within themselves and life in general. Below you'll find a few of the patterns I have noticed:

People get in their own way. Their egos are strong and loud.
Lack mentality is an epidemic. Most of them have some crazy fears around money and scarcity.
People who act like complete jerks a) don't usually notice they are doing it and b) have something very funky going on inside of them.
People let their job problems seep into every part of their lives. Or, vice versa, which may be even worse.
People are VERY quick to judge themselves and others.
People don't put their money where their mouth is. They talk a lot about changing, quitting their jobs, running their own business and the like but never do anything about it - and they certainly don't want to financially invest in their own betterment!

See? I told you this job might make you lose faith in humanity. But for me, it's been an eye opener. I already had a feeling that people were living on autopilot, merely existing rather than living, but conducting all these interviews has certainly proved it. At the end of the day, regardless of what issues they were bringing into my office, most people had the same basic problems: they weren't really living and they'd been hurt. Maybe even really hurt.

This prompted me to start reading and researching the psychology of happiness. I asked myself some very basic, yet fundamental questions. Why are we living this way? Why are we so quick to judge, control and attack ourselves and others? Do we have a predisposition to viewing life in a negative way? Is this genetic? How come only a few people seem to really be happy? And how can we spread the happiness?

What resulted was a journey (and a newfound love) for metaphysics, other forms of philosophy, spiritual teachings of all kinds, psychology, neuroscience and quantum physics. My Catholic upbringing had already exposed me to some of this stuff, but after witnessing first hand how people are sleeping through life I needed to know more. Never in a million years did this English major think she'd say "Wow I'm totally digging - and understanding - neuroscience right now."

My research was astounding. Turns out we have a set point for happiness. Fifty percent is determined by genetics, 10% is determined by circumstances outside of ourselves (car, money, house) and the other 40% is totally up to us. By this point its not rocket science. Things like chronic stress and anger make us feel like shit. Meanwhile things like exercise, community, feeding our brain with good stuff and proper management of our emotions makes us feel better. The point here is that happiness is up to us - we have more control than we think!

You know what else is interesting? Having material things doesn't make much of a difference. Sure, if you take a homeless guy and give him some food and a roof over his head it's going to really affect his happiness quotient for the long term. But if you go from maybe $100,000 to $500,000 or even $1 million the positive affects don't last very long. Ever notice how millionaire athletes are notorious for blowing through their money? Or how some people keep finding themselves in the same financial problems even when they make more money? Have you noticed the string of suicide and crimes in the athletic world lately? Or how some of the world's most famous actors and musicians are so deeply troubled? Thats because material wealth and success affects our happiness to a minimal degree.

Oh...and this one might actually blow your mind. We affect our surroundings. Our thoughts and our feelings can affect other people, animals and even our reality - and there is science that really backs this up! The idiom "I'm getting a good/bad vibes" is based on actual science!

Of course, we all already know this stuff. We're born knowing this stuff. We can feel it. Some people even tell us these things long after we've forgotten. So why aren't we listening?

Below you'll find some great books and documentaries on this very subject. I promise you won't look at life the same way again.

What the Bleep Do We Know?

I AM

The Unleashing Part 1 by Osmar Vindel (This one really goes into a bunch of other resources as well. Way too many to count!)

3 Magic Words

Happy reading + watching everyone! Feel free to share any thoughts or resources in the comments below.

Rockstar Blogging - a guide to help you earn over 1K in sponsorship, get free stuff and get noticed by brand you love!

One of the coolest thing I have found through my blogging journey is the ability to get free stuff from brands. Lately, I've had more companies and people reaching out to me offering me awesome products to review and give away - from books to calendars - and you all have responded very well to this!

Because of this I thought it would be a great idea to teach some of YOU how you can do the same on your blogs! So I brought in the Giveaway Queen herself, Shannyn Allan from Frugal Beautiful. Shannyn has created a Rockstar Blogging to help bloggers of any stage use their work as leverage to make extra income, get free stuff and get noticed! Shannyn and I have dished on this stuff before, and with her advice I've been able to get more free stuff to give away and share with you guys - from books to calendars and even a Kindle Fire!

I'm fortunate enough not to just consider Shannyn a colleague but also an incredible friend with a HUGE heart and lot's of spunk! We had so much fun making this video for you guys and I hope you all get as much out of it as we did!

What You'll Get From Rockstar Blogging

A specific action plan to help you earn 1K+ in sponsorship, free products & get noticed by brands you love. You'll learn how to:

Understand what companies look for in sponsoring a blogger.
Write the “Perfect Pitch” and talk to major brands.
Grow your trafﬁc & social media followings for free using giveaways.
Prep your blog so brands will seek you out to send you free stuff.
Build brand relationships effectively to earn free travel or sponsorships

You also have different options depending on your needs:

ROCKSTAR BLOGGING

Includes the guide to becoming a Rockstar Blogger
- Rockstar Blogging 51 Page Guide
Click here to learn more & purchase.
GOLD PACKAGE

Guide, Worksheets & Video
- Rockstar Blogging 51 Page Guide
- Supplemental Worksheets: Perfect Pitch Essentials and Rockstar Pre-Reqs
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- 2 Exclusive Video Interviews. With Rockstar Bloggers Kylie Oﬁu & Kelly Whalen.
- Access To Video Rockstar School. 4 Video Lesson Modules
Click here to learn more and purchase.
PLATINUM PACKAGE

Guide, Workheets, Video & Personal Consulting
- Rockstar Blogging 51 Page Guide
- Supplemental Worksheets: Perfect Pitch Essentials and Rockstar Pre-Reqs
- Action Guide: “The Freebie Filled Gift List: How To Score Your Christmas Gifts For Free"
- 2 Exclusive Video Interviews. With Rockstar Bloggers Kylie Oﬁu & Kelly Whalen.
- Access To Video Rockstar School. 4 Video Lesson Modules
- Special Launch Day Bonus: Free Personalized Site Feedback/Critique for ﬁrst 10 buyers!

Click here to learn more and purchase!

February Subscriber Bonus: 10% off Rockstar Blogging!

Alright my little fireballs, all of you who are already subscribed to the blog have received a 10% discount code for Shannyn's awesome program Rockstar Blogging! Just look on the sidebar all month long for your code. And no worries, I will be sending out a huge email blast with the code as well, plus your monthly dose of personal insights from me.

New subscribers: When you subscribe to the Grad Meets World email list you'll also get the 10% discount code in addition to the Post-Grad Tool Kit which is full of guides and templates to help you start a side hustle, make a budget and start kicking some major ass in your life. Simply use the box below, under the header or on the side bar to subscribe!

I am a big advocate of meditation. It's made a tremendous difference in my life and that of many others. Most of you already know the benefits of meditation, but just in case you didn't here's a rundown from Mayo Clinic:

The emotional benefits of meditation include:

Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
Building skills to manage your stress
Increasing self-awareness
Focusing on the present
Reducing negative emotions

With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help such conditions as:

Allergies
Anxiety disorders
Asthma
Binge eating
Cancer
Depression
Fatigue
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Pain
Sleep problems
Substance abuse

Okay, now why wouldn't anyone take five minutes a day to try this? It's quick, it's easy, it's natural and it's FREE!

Below you'll find some of my favorite tools and resources for keeping my meditation practice alive. Feel free to use any of these or share your own resources in the comments.

Yoga

I've learned some pretty awesome meditations thanks to my yoga practice. Whether you're going to studio classes or streaming yoga online, there are a ton of different resources you can use to learn different tools, techniques and breathing exercises.

I personally go to Prana Yoga Miami for studio classes and use MyYogaOnline or Gaiam for online video.

Gabrielle Bernstein

She's got free meditations on her podcasts, groovy youtube videos, a myriad of empowering lectures and three amazing books that help make meditation easy, practical and attainable. Seriously, this chick is a one stop shop for spirituality.

(P.S. You can still win an autographed copy of her latest book, May Cause Miracles! Click here to enter.)

Meditation Oasis

Meditation Oasis is a 100% free resource for guided meditations. I've been using these meditations since 2010! They also have a stellar blog that answers all of your meditation questions.

Terri Cole

Terri Cole is a psychotherapist and meditation advocate. Her album, Meditation Transformation, has a variety of meditations to get you through your day.I particularly love Manifest to Sleep. I'm out cold as soon as it's done.

BONUS! Inner Health Studio

While working on my coaching model I came across an awesome resource for visualization, relaxation techniques and meditations. Inner Health Studio has MP3s, scripts and a podcast to help you deal with just about anything - from writing a report to nightmares.

Happy Meditating everyone!

Spread the Love with a Tweetable:

Wanna start meditating? Check out these awesome tools! @gabbybernstein @terri_cole @MeditationOasis via @amandaabella Buffertweetable text

Think Traffic mentions how people who are considered experts in their field do not take on just anybody as a client. They have an application process, a waiting list and only offer free services occasionally.

Marie Forleo talks about the importance of identifying ideal clients in her video "Do Your Clients Drain Your Energy?". (Very good video!)

Ramit Sethi (I Will Teach You to Be Rich) and Derek Halpern (Social Triggers) also talk about the importance of knowing what kind of customers you want to work with on a podcast they did together.

And of course, you can't have a post like this without mentioning Seth Godin, who pretty much coined the idea of building your tribe. (If you don't know who Seth Godin is at this point you need to watch this and this.)

So as you can see, some of the leading online experts in marketing, sales and numbers all seem to agree on the same thing.

Bottom line: Get clear on who you WANT to work with.

Grad Meets World

New Branding for My Birthday!

Here are the deets:

How do you get in on this?

ROCKSTAR BLOGGING

Includes the guide to becoming a Rockstar Blogger

GOLD PACKAGE

Guide, Worksheets & Video

PLATINUM PACKAGE

Guide, Workheets, Video & Personal Consulting

Spread the Love with a Tweetable: