I used to think that my morning routine was nothing special, that is, until I started university and witnessed people sleeping until midday on a daily basis.
The way I see it, there are 2 options. You either stay up till 2am scrolling on social media, sleep through your alarm the next morning and then rush to work… or you wake up 2 hours earlier and get time for yourself. Obviously, the latter sounds much, much better.
Early morning is my “me” time…no phone, no distractions, no worries, it’s just me. I can confidently say that the days in which I don’t do my morning routine, I’m less focused, less productive and generally less motivated.
Here is what I do Monday-Friday mornings:
6am Wake up, get my lemonade from the fridge and then spend half an hour meditating or praying. I love praying in the mornings because it feels much more intimate; I might read some bible verses or listen to some worship songs depending on the mood. Other days, I just listen to Headspace or do my 5min of gratitude to get into an abundance mentality.
6:30am Sports clothes on, ponytail up. Some days it is raining, some days it is too cold; but I remember how awesome workout makes me feel and then head to the studio. It takes me less than 10 min on my bicycle to get there, but it is a good warm up.
7am HIIT /spinning
7:50am Head home, shower and dress up… all while listening to one of my favorite podcasts
8:20am Breakfast!! This is by far my favorite meal of the day- usually overnight oats, a Fab Four Smoothie or a spinach omelette.
8:40am Finish getting ready. At this point I’ve probably switched to a Spotify playlist ranging from anything from Taylor Swift to Romeo Santos depending on the weather.
8:50am I’m off to work on my bicycle
9:05am Sat at my desk, sipping green tea, agenda out and ready to start the day ( I know, I’m lucky to live 10min away from the office)!
While it may seem excessive for some, those early hours make me incredibly happy. As soon as I get to the office, I have a million things to take care of and having set my intentions and motivations beforehand helps me understand my priorities and not stress.
Try this routine for 5 days and you’ll feel like a different person, promise!
Precisely at this time, around a year ago, I was panicking about not having a placement. The fact that thousands of talented, charismatic and qualified university candidates were all applying for the same jobs did have a way of making me nervous. I know how it feels to spend hours perfecting a cover letter only to be rejected the next day. Or spend an entire week preparing for an assessment centre, spending an exaggerated amount on an on-peak train to London for an interview, and then getting disqualified after the first round.
Eventually, I did learn a thing or two about how to increase your chances of getting the job. Little things can sometimes make a huge difference. Ultimately, it got me to my current, dream-job at a fitness startup by London Bridge. As it turns out, I am now interviewing candidates to join our growing team and sitting at the other side of the table (or camera).
Now it is me questioning candidates and deciding in a matter of 15 minutes, whether they have what it takes for the role. This experience has given me a greater perspective of common pitfalls, as well as the simple, but effective strategies which make a candidate successful.
So, here they are:
1. Do your research
I really can’t emphasize this point enough. Some people actually ask what the company does during the interview, or even what the role is!
Honestly, if you can’t bother to properly understand that, then you can’t expect the employer or recruiter to take you seriously. Some of the most impressive interviews are the ones where the person not only knows everything about the company’s operations, but is also aware of recent press coverage and any significant projects throughout the years.
2. Have your examples ready and make them concrete
I was always told this at uni, but I guess it never really clicked until now. Whether you say you are great at multitasking, or an amazing team-player, it is truly meaningless unless you provide an example. It is honestly so easy. Look at the job description, understand the skill requirements and then prepare an example for each of these. Simple.
3. Be real and share your story
So many people feel like they have to pretend during an interview, I actually used to believe that too. Part of it, I think, happens because you are not applying to the correct company. Honestly, if your personality is aligned with the company’s values and culture, which should be the case if you to want to work there, then you’ll fit right in! Be funny if you are funny, show your curiosity, talk about your passions.
The worst thing than can happen is for you to get accepted into a company while pretending to be someone you’re not! Pretending 9 hours a day, 7 days a week is just not sustainable.
4. Always ask questions!
If somebody doesn’t have any questions at the end of the interview, we assume they are not really interested. An interview is meant to serve the applicant as well, so make sure you ask about everything you are genuinely curious about. Some of the best questions I’ve heard include:
What would I have to do in order to be successful in this role?
What is the most challenging aspect of the role?
What does a day on the role look like?
How would you describe the company culture and how does this influence the day to day
What would you wish you’d known before starting (if being interviewed by a person in a similar role).
5.Always send a thank-you email afterwards
This is a must. If your interview happens to be on the limit between a yes and a no, a thank you email can put you on the safe side. It takes you 2 min and makes all the difference in the world.
6. Practice, practice, practice.
There is simply no other way. Use every rejection as a learning experience and just keep going. Ask for help if you need to!
If you’re not getting the results you want, also consider whether you’re applying for the right jobs. I was literally so excited during the interview for my current role, because I genuinely admire the founders and love the fitness world. Employers can sense this passion and commitment, so if you’re not there yet, perhaps you need to start applying to other jobs which really fire you up.
p.s. Insider secret: Being overqualified for a job is actually a reason for rejection. That’s just something you should keep in mind before beating yourself up for not getting the role!
Around two years ago I was introduced to the world of podcasts and since then, I’ve been 100% hooked. Podcasts, in my opinion, are the most time efficient form of consuming content and staying continuously informed and inspired.
“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”
Jim Rohn
While we may not always have the opportunity to hang out with billionaires, entrepreneurs or movie stars, hearing their stories and learnings while you prepare breakfast, commute or walk your dog can radically impact your lifestyle. I make an effort to immerse myself into the words of people who focus on courage, creativity, risk-taking and most of all, unbreakable positivism.
Here are the top 5 business podcasts I listen to almost every day. They’ve positively influenced everything from my morning routine and the marketing strategies I use, to the way I network with other people and deal with limiting beliefs.
Entrepreneurs on Fire: You simply got to love JLD! John Lee Dumas is the host of this amazing show, in which he interviews entrepreneurs on different topics such as branding, finances, sales strategies, you name it. There is such a great vibe and energy on this show and John makes it incredibly easy to identify the most valuable and actionable points of each episode. Some of my favorite recent episodes include the interviews with Jennifer Dawn on reaching your goals and the one with Kim Constable on building a Fitness Empire.
RISE podcast: I’m truly obsessed with Rachel Hollis and she is has been an incredible inspiration for me. Rachel is the kind of person who you’d love to be best friends with, simply because she is real, committed and extremely passionate. I am describing her as if I knew her in person, but that is just proof of how authentic this podcast is!
Rachel interviews entrepreneurs and self-development leaders on different topics to provide more of an insight into their journeys and tactical tools to help you. The episode you need to listen to is #72, where she teaches you step by step, her own practice to envision and achieve her dreams.
How I Built This: These are just my dream bedtime stories . I would have honestly loved to hear these amazing entrepreneurial tales before going to bed every night (no offence Cinderella). This podcast simply focuses on telling the story of entrepreneurs in as much detail as possible from the very start. It drills down on what were their thoughts at a particular moment, why they decided to take specific actions, who helped them throughout their journey, etc. I find this so relaxing to listen to and extremely inspiring as well. I can’t recommend any episodes, all of them are just amazing.
Kwik Brain: This is not technically a business podcast, however I think it is something we all need. It focuses on brain, health and wellbeing hacks to improve your lifestyle. Starting from the best foods to improve your memory to why a practice of gratitude can change your life, it provides actionable tips to continuously develop yourself and improve your performance in whatever you do. I loved the episode on brain foods and it has massively influenced how I eat and the ingredients I use.
Girlboss Radio: I was originally introduced to Sophia Amoruso when I read the book #GirlBoss about how she started Nasty Gal, one of the fastest growing retailers in the world, from scratch. In the podcast, Sophia interviews women on everything from influencer marketing to VCs and funding. For anyone looking for female empowerment, you’ll absolutely love this!
Listen to these podcasts anytime you have the chance and I promise you’ll get a boost of creativity and motivation, your craziest dreams will suddenly seem strangely achievable and you’ll know the tools which you can use to build the dreams that you’ve envisioned.
I used to hate cold calling. Probably everyone in sales hates them at some point. A big part of it, I believe, comes down to the actual definition. Cambridge Dictionary put it this way:
“the activity of calling…a possible customer to try to sell them something without being asked by the customer to do so”.
If that definition is not intimidating, then I don’t know what is. There are so many negative perceptions surrounding cold calling and we’ve all been victims of a poorly executed cold call at some point in our lives. Regardless, it is absolutely a skill worth developing as it not only trains your mindset to take risks and face your fears, but is also build the persuasive skills to get your points across in any situation. As Spanx- founder said:
I believe that cold calling is one of life’s greatest trainings
-Sarah Blakely at HIBT summit 2019
When I started working at a startup, cold calls became a crucial part of my job. I’d get a collated list of leads of providers to sign up to our platform, and had to call them one by one. Sometimes I stuttered, sometimes I’d go blank, other times I’d get a rude response, etc. It became something I was quite fearful of doing and I’d find the most creative forms of procrastination to delay the moment I had to pick up the phone.
I quickly got bored of hearing “no thank you” or “sorry we’re not interested” and decided I needed to change something. I started reading top sales articles, listening to business podcasts and completed a couple of workshops on Skillshare. Additionally, I paid close attention to how my colleagues at the office interacted with their own clients, and made a note of any phrase which I particularly liked.
Things started to change and slowly, my confidence increased. I was able to establish casual conversations, get to know the other person, fully describe our product and tailor my dialogue to fit the person’s particular struggles. What changed? I understood the most important thing: In a cold call, it is not about selling the product (well it is, technically), it is about selling the problem.
Think about it, at this point, the other person likely has no interest on your product, the business or the brand. The only thing which determines whether they want to “opt in” is whether the problems you talk about resonate with their daily experiences. In other words, you have to know your target audience inside out! This realization may be liberating or terrifying for some. In any case, the good news is that you’re in control.
The following are my recommendations for anyone starting out on cold calls. It is not an easy process, and it takes time to find your own voice (yes, we all have one), but if you make enough calls, I can promise you’ll get there. Note that while these tips can be useful for all cold calls, they are especially focused on B2B interactions, which is the area I focus on.
1.Write a script
This one seems pretty obvious, but to be honest, I managed to convince myself I didn’t need one for the first few calls. I thought, I’ve always been good at performances and presentations, I know the product, I can deal with any question. Nope! A script not only ensures that you don’t blank out, but also allows you to get to your point, fast. People don’t have time to listen to you ramble about this product, even if you do have ALL the information in your head. A script helps ensure every single sentence serves a purpose and that you’re not providing unnecessary details at this stage. Likewise, there are points you simply can’t miss, so I suggest you write and highlight them.
Obviously you are not expected to stick to the script regardless of the other person’s reaction. However it is the first step, ALWAYS. The more calls you make, the more freedom you’ll have to say what you want, but trust me, to start, a script is a must.
2. Ask and then listen
As every sales person will tell you, the best thing you can do is to get the other person talking. However, once they do, there are three particular aspects you must pay close attention to:
Their name; make a note of it and mention it as many times as possible throughout the conversation (without sounding creepy)
Their struggles and pains: They may not refer to them as such, but try to identify from their tone of voice, what it is that annoys or worries them.
Their triumphs and motivations: A person’s voice will “light up” when they speak of something they are proud of or something they are passionate about.
Make notes on all of these, as they will dictate how you manage the rest of the conversation. By touching upon each of these points, you are highly likely to connect with what is most important to them and consequently earn their trust. Eventually, you’ll create a database of these and identify trends, which will make conversations easier over time.
3. Prior-research
The fact that the person you’re calling knows nothing about you, doesn’t mean it has to be the same from your side. Make sure that you have a basic understanding on what they do, who they are, etc. It is by no means necessary to know everything, but make sure you have at least one positive fact which you can easily build upon. Here’s what I mean. Say they were in the news lately, well mention that (they’ll love it). Or perhaps you know it is a family owned business, then talk about why you find that important. The idea is to find one thing you genuinely admire or like about their business, and then express it in an honest way. Don’t fake interest or admiration if you don’t feel it, this will be obvious to the other person. If you can’t find anything you like, then it is preferable to not mention anything.
4. Adjust your script
The idea of a script is not that you keep saying the same thing over and over. The more cold calls you make, the more you’ll realize the type of questions you’re getting, the lines that spark interest in people and the lines that perhaps are unnecessary. Make sure you keep changing your script to reflect all your learnings. Yes, eventually you won’t need one, but it will help you take note of what works and doesn’t. Adding/adjusting your script makes all the “no thank you’s” worth it, because you are learning something from them.
5. Be real
There is a stereotype for sales people. The type we see on TV, who are on and on about how amazing a product is, “but wait, there’s more!”, etc, etc. Don’t try to sound like this sort of sales person; it would not only be incredibly annoying, but also sound incredibly fake. Use your own voice and your own expressions to get your points across. If you are asked something, respond honestly as well. After all, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be honest. The fact you’ve decide to cold-call someone means that you have something of value to offer them.
Those are some of the initial tips I’d suggest you master before moving to more advanced techniques. Believe me, nobody is born being a cold call pro. Yes, some people find talking easier than others, but anyone can learn to cold call if you practice enough. Most importantly, remember that the best way to get better is to make one call after another.
Prior to living in London, I had visited the city numerous times. The Big Ben, the London Eye, West End theatre…check, check, check. The truth is, no amount of weekend escapes to London can teach you all the little things that are only evident as an insider. Having lived here long enough to know the bus combinations that get me from Kensington to Canada Water, but not nearly enough to fully understand why people are using dating apps, I feel like I’m at a good stage to advise newcomers on making the world-to-london transition.
Get good walking shoes… and an umbrella
While the London underground is significantly more reliable than transport in other cities and perfectly suitable if you’re a tourist without important meetings to attend, soon you’ll realize it is not half as glamorous as suggested by all the “Mind the gap” souvenirs. From delays, to technical issues, to man on the rails (this actually happens), there is always a cause for stress if you need to get somewhere fast, especially at peak hours. If you are living in London, I’d suggest getting a house as close to your place of work or study and walking whenever you can (honestly, it is often faster).
Also, make sure to take an umbrella with you. Always.
2. You can’t use cash on a bus
Contrary to other cities, you can’t actually pay with cash on the buses, so if you are using a pay-as you- go Oyster Card (which can only be charged at underground stations) make sure you have enough money to cover for your entire trip. Alternatively, you can use a contactless card.
Note that even if you have insufficient money to cover for a particular bus ride, you will still be allowed on and will need to pay the difference the next time you charge your Oyster Card.
3. Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone. Making friends is easy!
For some reason, I was always told that people in big cities are lonely and that it is harder to make friends. However, I’ve found quite the opposite in London. The diversity of the population means that any racism or judgement is, in most cases, nonexistent. Furthermore, as there are so many foreigners (with their families in distant countries), you’ll find that most people are open to making new friends and simply hanging out.
4. Myth: You can’t have fun without spending money!!
Many people believe visiting London is all about spending, spending, spending. The truth is however, there are so many amazing things you can do for free!
In summer time, I’d recommend Hampstead Heath ponds, Southwark Park and Regent’s Park for a picnic, a walk or even a date! If you rather stay inside, then know that museums, libraries and art galleries are mostly free. Finally, I’d strongly suggest using Meetup and Eventbrite to look for local gigs, workshops, networking and classes on every possible topic (again, so many of them are 100% free!).
5. There is no better place to start a new hobby!
London is a true melting pot and as a result, you can easily get involved in ANY activity you can think of. Brazilian Zouk? Hot Yoga? Pottery? Peruvian Cuisine? Martial arts? Yep. yep. yep.
The best part is that, unlike other places where classes are based on memberships, almost everything here can be done as a drop in. It is honestly soo easy to experience and discover new activities, as well as make tons of friends in the process.
Yes, this is the perfect time to form that harmonica band you’ve always dreamed of.
6. Workspaces?… more like work-anywhere
One of the most amazing things about living in London is that basically every cafe is a work space (and there are so many cafes!). You can go to a Costa, Pret or Starbucks and unapologetically connect to the wifi and spend hours working or immersed in a book. And no, you don’t need to continue buying coffees to stay.
If you feel a bit guilty about spending a long time there (I did for a few weeks), try sitting downstairs or upstairs. Honestly, staff couldn’t care less if you visit everyday.
7. Social norms can be strict….or completely nonexistent.
One thing you realize after a few visits to the underground is that you must, MUST, stick to the right on escalators. People are busy and need to get to places and they won’t be happy if somebody is obstructing their path. I found this quite strange considering that in everything else (roads, traffic, swimming lanes), you must stick to your left, but it is how it is.
On the other hand, jaywalking is 100% ok in this city. Nobody really respects the traffic lights, it is more of a look-both-sides-and-powerwalk sort of ritual.
So there they are! Seven things that would’ve made my life easier as I became familiarized with the city and tried to understand the paradox of a “Family Pub” (I still can’t).
A year ago, waking up at 6 am for a morning run sounded like the ultimate torture. I’d make up any excuse to avoid going to the gym in the evenings and even used the characteristic English weather to justify why I didn’t feel like working out on any particular day. Now, running in the mornings is a necessity, my evening HIIT sessions keep my excited throughout the day, and even running in the rain feels like a personal triumph.
While there are many factors involved in this lifestyle transformation, I’ve compiled the top 3 things that helped motivate me to start and maintain a sustainable workout routine. Read on if you are determined not to miss a workout again.
Work on your mindset
This was by far the thing that had the most impact on my lifestyle. It sounds hard, but it actually isn’t, it just takes a bit of willpower and practice….lots of practice.
Unless you are a professional athlete, then working-out on any particular day always seems like a choice. You decide whether to wake up half an hour earlier, whether to show up to that spinning class or whether to sign up for that marathon. While choice is incredible in most areas of life, it is not helpful in this case. Deciding to do the “right thing” or to stay committed to your workout goals every day is exhausting and unsustainable.
This is why, the key is to shift your mindset and stop considering it a choice. Think of other things you do everyday; for instance, brushing your teeth or taking a shower. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a long, exhausting day, or whether your time is tight- somehow you always find time to do these things. It is not an “if”, but a “when”.
The key to being able to adhere to your scheduled workouts is to not think of them as an option. Every time you find yourself considering whether to do it or not, stop yourself and remember it is not a choice. For example, you want to sleep through your alarm? Well, not an option. What if you had a flight to catch? Then, no matter how tired you were, you’d still wake up. Well, apply the same concept to working out.
The more you do it, the easier it will become.
2. Plan your workouts ahead of the week
It is hard to stick to a workout routine if you don’t have one. I’ve found it extremely helpful to plan my weekly workouts every Sunday. I will sit down with my agenda and make sure to fit in at least 5 hours within the next seven days. Importantly, I also make sure to determine my rest days and time that will be spent on other activities.
We all know that as the week unfolds, distractions and unexpected events will inevitably appear. For most people, the result is that the evening gym session they planned to squeeze in somewhere, is suddenly forgotten and buried under all the new tasks. The only way to stop this from happening is to block out your workout times in anticipation. Think of it as an important meeting. While there are exceptions, we never cancel or postpone important meetings because we want to keep our commitments and promises at all costs. So make sure you don’t break promises to yourself and plan anything that comes up around your set appointments.
Conscious planning in anticipation will facilitate exercising and will also ensure that on your rest days (you need them!), you can freely relax and enjoy your other activities completely guilt-free.
3. Mini- commitments
While the last two practices assume that you actually want to exercise, the truth is we all have days in which we’d rather just stay in bed and watch Netflix (which is fine… if it is your rest day!). However, if you have a workout scheduled and zero motivation to go outside, the thing that helped me the most was to take very, very small actions which eventually forced me out of the door (literally).
Try this. If you’re lying in bed when you should actually be heading to your pilates class, simply motivate yourself to stand up. Then, convince yourself to open your sports clothes drawer. Maybe try putting one sock after that? You get the point! Don’t think about the actual class, simply convince yourself to do the next mini-action that will take you closer to your objective.
There are still days when I have to do this and bit by bit, I find myself opening the front door, stepping outside and then…eventually, sprinting. It gets easier the closer you are to your final objective because your brain is making small (tiny) commitments, and as part of our human nature, we don’t like going back on our commitments.
These 3 practices literally changed my life. Workouts are now as much a part of my routine as brushing my teeth. Most days, I don’t even think about it, it is just something I check on my agenda, as with any other task.
Ultimately, enjoy it! It sounds hard, especially if it is not something you are used to doing. But the truth is, you’ll feel awesome after every. single. session.
