“A Young Ballet Dancer Awaits Her Turn As 530 Ballet Dancers Take Part In An Attempt To Stage The Record

Listen to me: You get good at things by being bad at them. You learn by failing. You gain competency and a sense of mastery by failing at something many times and in many interesting ways.

The sooner you are able to laugh at your own failures, to enjoy the process of messing up, the easier life will be. Because you'll no longer be afraid of learning.

And once you're no longer afraid of failing, you can learn anything.

Hello Elle, do you have any tips for maintaining a professional network? I know the basics when it comes to networking such as reaching out to people via Linkedin, attending networking events and reaching out to professionals who work at companies of interest. However, I am not sure how to maintain a longlasting professional network effectively as I am not from a background where networking was taught. How often do you suggest reaching out to members of your network? What do you speak about when you reach out to them? How do you provide value to your network if you are still studying at university and are not in an established career?

Hello Anon,

Really great question! Let's see...

Regarding timelines, follow the 2-2-4 Rule:

After your first meeting, reach out the next day to thank them for their time and ask them to put you in touch with members of their team/company.

Two weeks later, follow up again with an update on your correspondence with those they originally put you into contact with. Thank them again for their time.

Two months later reach out and request to speak again. During that conversation update them on your professional development and (if you're interested in their field or company) ask them directly for potential in's.

After the two month mark, send them a brief noteonce every 4-5 months.

What to speak about:

My conversations usually go like this: I thank them profusely for taking the time to speak with me, I ask them how they're doing, we make small talk for a few minutes, and then I get to introducing myself thoroughly and explaining why I reached out. I also always come equipped with 3-5 questions about their career and any advice they have for me. And I always always always close the conversation with asking them to connect me with other people in their network.

The most important thing is to make the conversation as smooth as possible. You want them to like you and you definitely don't want them to feel uncomfortable so be flexible. One of the most recent men I've networked with got his hands on my resume and when he saw that I put 'classic rock' as one of my interests he insisted we talk about it for the entire 30 minute call and I had to just go along with it! So have a clear goal in mind but allow yourself to be flexible.

How often should you reach out to your network?

As often as you can handle! When I was doing my internship this summer I had at least one chat daily with a member of the firm. At first it was tedious but I eventually got into a rhythm and it just worked for me. So decide how many times per week you feel comfortable meeting with members of your network and go from there!

How do you provide value as a college student?

Short answer: you don't. And frankly, you don't need to because no one expects you to. I wouldn't worry about providing value until you're a full time worker because at this age, everyone knows exactly why you're reaching out to them and there's no need to pretend you want anything out of them except a job. This is the one time in your career where you can be positively selfish and let people help you out of the goodness of their hearts. There's absolutely nothing you can give them that they would need right now so don't worry about trying to do so!

Hope that helps!

-Elle

I’m starting to realize that life at every age, every day, is a journey of self acceptance. The world profits so much of making you hate yourself or feel that you’re not enough. Honestly, you have to find a continual sense of self-awareness and self-love to constantly fight against the world lies about yourself.

It is your responsibility to heal, but you know what? That wasn’t fair. And I want to acknowledge that.

You don’t deserve to have to heal from the things others did to you. You didn’t deserve what happened.

While you do have to do the work to heal, it’s okay to be angry that you have to in the first place. And it’s easy to get stuck on the fact that you shouldn’t have to. And I get that. But please don’t give up. You should heal because you deserve to be the healed you. It’s not fair you have to do it, but you deserve to heal.

I can’t believe I graduate high school in 2 months what

ig: @mattersofb

thefemalewarhol

Love is patient. Lust can't wait and is impulsive.

Love is kind. Lust is cruel, critical, and manipulative.

Love does not envy. Lust seeks more than it earns.

Love does not boast. Lust serves self at the expense of others.

Love is not proud. Lust is easily threatened.

Love is not rude. Lust is disrespectful and thoughtless.

Love is not self-seeking. Lust is demanding and uncaring.

Love is not easily angered. Lust is temperamental and retaliatory.

Love keeps no records of wrongs. Lust does not forget offenses.

Love does not delight in evil. Lust commits wrong to get its own way and rationalizes it.

Love rejoices in the truth. Lust encourages lies and covers up misdeeds.

Love always protects. Lust takes for selfish gain and lacks concern for consequences to others.

Love always trusts. Lust is suspicious and jealous.

Love always hopes. Lust says one chance and you're out.

Love always perseveres. Lust retreats when it is no longer convenient.

Love never fails (it is constant, enduring, and faithful to the end). Lust ends when self is no longer served (it is fickle, insecure, and unfaithful).