That's All We Need!

A Little Inspiration Always Helps...

Getting Rid Of Writer's Block!

Even the most creative writers amongst us sometimes get stuck, simply void of all ideas - a writer's block. And whether you'd like to agree or not, you do look for ways to get rid of it before it starts to show in your work. You can afford to be idealess on a given day, but the very next you need to be inspired. 

Writers often work after being inspired by an event in their lives - be it a birthday or a life changing event. The thing with inspiration is that you never know when it strikes! 

So, when you can't come up with even a word, use these sure shot ways to get rid of the writer's block (I promise, they work!):

1. Go On A Vacation! 

Well, if you can't afford one, looking at photographs online helps! Or an even better thing to do would be stepping outside to admire your surroundings. Finding beauty in the simplest and the smallest of things can really charge up your mind. Look for beauty, absorb it and get rid of writer's block!

2. Write For Yourself!

It's okay to write about your childhood experiences or your favorite TV show's review sometimes. The mind needs a break from monotonous writing and here, the idea is to simply keep writing. Just pen down all your thoughts on paper; you never know what might come of it!

3. Watch Your Favorite Series! 

Yes, those of you suffering from a writer's block have the perfect excuse for spending hours watching your favorite show. (Sherlock time!) Pay attention to the one liners, the back drop and then try and write out the scene in your very own way once the episode is over. Don't hesitate to add your own twists and turns to the plot! 

This is great for coming up with story lines and metaphors!  

4. Read My Dear! 

Who said writer's don't read? Of course they do! Maybe not their own work. Pick up a series you'd like to read or a book by an author that inspires you the most. It's by far the best way to spark new ideas!

5. Maintain A Journal! 

If you're someone who doesn't spend one night dreaming, this one is for you! Try and maintain a journal wherein you jot down every bit of information you remember from your last night's dream. A creative mind is best at work in dreams and those ideas are worth being used so don't miss out on them!  

6. Do What You Like! 

Yes, you may hold responsibility of a lot many people around you; but take time out for yourself and pick an activity you like! Be it random reading, doodling or listening to classic music, the choice is yours. After all, no one understands you better than yourself! 

How do you deal with a writer's block? Personally, I choose to go out and shop (till I drop)! 

Self Promoting, Not Bragging!

It's appraisal time - again! And if you're going to ask for money for the work you do, you need to make your case stronger than the opposition's (the company's management). That fiery hot conversation can be easily avoided; and all you need to do is keep your project manager in the loop about your accomplishments. 

Talking about yourself can be really difficult. Trust me, I have tried and all I came up with were a few points here and there despite having thought of about a twenty prior to the 'meeting'. But I am better at it now. The situation can get not only really heated up, but uncomfortable as well; especially for women. And whether we'd like to agree to this or not, it's a well known fact. 

Often we see media platforms, organizations popping up with events to make the working women a champion in their fields; encouraging them to not just value themselves but also be able to put across their value and ask for money that their work is 'really' worth. 

You may still be struggling to climb up the corporate ladder or already be running a business; but irrespective of your position and gender (though mostly, women) it is vital to convey your worth to the people you're working with. 

But before you get all charged up and start framing a self promotion strategy, here are a few things you need to keep in mind: 

1. Self promotion and bragging are not the same. 

Self promotion is all about letting people you work with know about your skills and the value you are worth of in their organization. On the other hand, bragging refers to claiming to have skills in a certain field to up your value when clearly there is no proof of it. 

2. Self promotion is not a choice. 

Unless you want to keep your compensation and promotional rate way below your peers, self promotion is a vital element when climbing the success ladder in the corporate world. In many cases, men are able to put across their achievements in a better way than women do. Women usually think on the lines of: "Let the company see my work and decide accordingly." What's going to happen if you think on those lines, is only and only going to benefit the company. 

3. Avoid the reputational backlash that comes with self promotion. 

Most women in the corporate sector aren't aggressively self promoting because they fear the reputational backlash which is of rare occurrence for the men. If you have been facing the same discomfort, try and work your strategy around it. A popular and the most successful way of self promotion being positioning of accomplishments as successes that have benefited the company over time.  

Here's a little secret to improve your strategy, get your client feedbacks involved. Nudge your clients to give a feedback for your work (don't over do it), because in the end the client (customer) is King. 

And the last thing you need to do before you actually get down to executing your strategy is..

4. Create a script and practice it!  

Yes, you read it right. Like every talk you gave at school assemblies in front of hundreds of students, you need to have your self promotion script ready and practiced before you actually enter the cabin and demand a pay hike! 

And if you still don't feel too sure of yourself, read The Big Book Of Self Promotion. It's one of my favorites! 

Have you self promoted lately? Feel free to share your experience!