walking tall.

Whether you are walking into a crowded dinner party, a serious job interview, or if you are simply taking a stroll down the sidewalk, radiating a sense of confidence is the absolute key to getting ahead in life. How often did we hear our parents bother us about our manners while we were growing up- chew with your mouth closed, sit up straight, make good eye contact and flash your pearly whites. At the time, we just assumed they were being the nagging parents that we loved to defy, yet in reality they were just trying to prepare us for life in the real world. You have just minutes to make a first and lasting impression on someone, so being prepared for whatever is thrown your way is non negotiable. You should consider confidence an undergarment to be worn daily. We can follow a strict schedule on a given day, but what actually occurs is often times out of our control. What if you run into an old high school crush while you are grabbing your morning coffee? Or are approached in the grocery store with a date offer? What if you are introduced to a big wig CEO who is visiting your office from out of town? Or asked to make a last minute presentation at your monthly department meeting? Life is messy! We have to be prepared for anything; the people we might meet and the potential connections we could make. We constantly need to be prepared to nail that first impression because you never know how that person could help you get you ahead in life. When we boil all this chatter down, one word comes to mind- Confidence. It can be hard to achieve, challenging to maintain, gone in just seconds, but it always pays off. Everyone is instantly attracted to the outgoing girls- the ones who can smile and just light up a room. The ones that make strangers feel good about themselves and the ones that are comfortable in their own skin. You can be that girl! It doesn't mean you have to wear a size zero, have a perfectly straight set of chompers, have long luscious locks, or be dressed in the latest fashion. Whether you look like the blonde bombshell straight out of this month's Vogue magazine or not, you have got to internalize the fact that you are beautiful because, well, you are! Are you going to be that frowning and drabby looking brunette hiding in the corner of the party? Or are you going to be that smiling face everyone loves to see when they get to the office in the morning? Life is too short to not push yourself to be great. Why not work hard to accomplish everything your heart desires? Why not show people you are confident in who you are? Start today! Make a list of all the things holding you back from reaching your fullest potential. Then one by one create a no-fail plan for achievement. You want to be able to rock a pair of size twenty-nine '7 for All Mankind' jeans? Well get that butt of the couch and go for a run. Want your skin to glow? Save up for a facial or spa day where you can be pampered from head to toe. Want to get over your fear of public speaking? Go check the self-improvement section at your local bookstore or ask your girlfriends if you could practice a speech in front of them. Want to climb the latter at your job? Approach your boss and come up with a plan to make it happen. Want to be more confident? Be more confident! There is nothing standing in your way except yourself. You can have everything you want and be whoever you want to be. All you have to do is walk tall and believe!