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  • Lindsay Tigar

    Freelance Travel and Lifestyle Journalist for Travel + Leisure, Vogue, USA Today, Brides and many more.
How I Never, Ever Worry About My Career
Career Growth

How I Never, Ever Worry About My Career

Of course, I have moments of angst like any other professional but generally speaking, my career isn’t something that keeps me up at night. I’m one of the lucky ones who has always known exactly what she wanted to do with her life, right from a young age. I have pursued my professional aspirations — with fervor — since the moment I realized journalism and writing could be a full-time gig. From endless internships and writing for free until someone finally decided to pay me, most of the time, my work doesn’t feel like work, but rather something I enjoy and happen to be skilled at. This confidence and calm has served me well throughout my journey, and it’s also taught me a few valuable lessons. Here, a few tips from someone who doesn’t get super-anxious about work and how you can apply the principles. How to stop to stop worrying about your career:Recognize the power of your thoughtsBlame it on having a mother who is an astrologer but I believe in the power of the universe. And more so, I am always alert to what words I’m using to describe myself, my work and my attitude. Because writing is a passion, the adjectives I associate with this part of my life are positive, exciting and encouraging. I’ve never doubted my ability to string together sentences, hustle for a byline or to land a client, so I rarely think negative about my professional sphere. On the other hand, I struggled for year (read: a decade) with dating before I met my partner. He was worth the ups and downs, but it wasn’t until I started to shift my mental patterns about finding love that I was in the right head space to meet him. If you are anxious about your career or your ability to snag that dream gig, start with the way you talk to yourself. What you say you are, you are — and what you think, becomes your reality. Pay attention and shift appropriately.Don't hold onto the failuresThe road to becoming a full-time freelance travel and lifestyle journalist and owner of a content strategy company definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing from day one. In fact, a big part of my job description is remaining collected when I receive a rejection. Or an article is returned for revisions. Or, I don’t get a client I thought I had in the bag. Whatever the case, I allow myself to mourn the setback… and then I let it go. I also have learned — over many trails and errors — not to take anything personally. Perhaps an editor had a rough morning, and they took it out on their writers. Or my writing style wasn’t a fit for a particular publication. The more you hold onto your shortcomings, the more they define your overall perception of yourself as a professional. Though I may be more sensitive about my body image, when it comes to my career, I’m able to absorb in the comments, release them, and move forward.Celebrate the winsIf there’s anything my friends know about me, it’s that I love a reason to celebrate. I always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge, I have a drawer full of cards for every occasion, and I never let a birthday go by without doting on my loved ones to the extreme. I apply the same philosophy to my career: when my dream byline went live, I held an impromptu happy hour. When I managed to meet a savings goal, I treated myself (and my boyfriend) to a nice dinner. These milestones may not be much in the grand scheme of a career, but if you aren’t proud of yourself — how can you expect others to be? No matter how you take a moment to reflect on a win, that pause is non-negotiable. It will help foster your self-esteem and give you the motivation you need to push harder.Foster trust in yourselfEven though it isn’t 100 percent true, I find peace in the parts of my life that I feel like I can control. While I couldn’t magically snap my fingers and meet a wonderful guy when I was single, I could hustle hard-time and find new clients. Part of why I don’t suffer from as much anxiety from my career is because I know with diligence, ambitious and determination, I will always keep chugging along. Most importantly, I trust myself to never give up. I also trust my abilities, my judgement and my performance, which automatically sets me up for success. The more that you can remind yourself that hey, I’m worthy and I’m ready for the next big thing, the more convincing you will be to other people you meet along the way.You have to love itSure, not everyone will be head-over-heels for their profession. Not everyone has a lifelong passion. When many people struggle to figure out what to do with their careers, they will make an excuse that "I don’t really like anything that much." This isn’t true for anyone, since working doesn’t have to be the most fulfilling part of your life. In fact, you can love your job because it allows you to create the lifestyle that you want. Say, you’re in management and though it isn’t dreamy, you make six figures, have a flexible schedule and can go abroad four times a year. Instead of thinking about the aspects of your day-in and day-out that you don’t enjoy, you can shift your thinking to focus on what your gig gives you in return. Love can be defined in many ways, after all.So how can you stop worrying less about your career? And manifest the life you want? Start with one positive thought — and you’re on your way.

You Failed, Now What? Successful Entrepreneurs Share Their Comeback Stories
Entrepreneurs

You Failed, Now What? Successful Entrepreneurs Share Their Comeback Stories

If you’re in the beginning stages of a side hustle, bouncing a few big ideas around, or just trying to make your way up the competitive corporate ladder, it’s important to think positively, manifest, and to not be so hard on yourself. Especially if you are comparing yourself to the most ambitious companies out there. Why? Though it may seem rosy from the outside, every company and entrepreneur has to fail to discover their success. No matter how profitable they are today, at one point, they started from the ground up and had to work overtime to develop strategy, recover from mistakes and build their brand. Here, 5 successful entrepreneurs share how they recovered from failure:1. “Be transparent.”When Kari DePhillips started her company, The Content Factory, she was adamant about on truth: pay everyone. As a writer herself, she never wanted to ask for free content and because she also valued other creatives, she wanted to be prudent about paying for images, too.However, one of her new writers published a blog post to a client’s site that included a copyrighted image, unbeknownst to DePhillips. A few months later, a client received an email from a lawyer informing them they were being sued for $8,000 for using the photo. Not only was it embarrassing — but it was a lot of money for a young business. Though they eventually negotiated the fee down to $3000, it proved to be an expensive — but essential — learning for DePhillips. In addition to crossing her T’s and dotting her I’s, she now has a traceable, reliable workflow for every writer to follow, cutting down on mistakes. Most importantly, she discovered the value in being transparent. She published an expose, appropriately-titled "The $8,000 Mistake That All Bloggers Should Beware." It become the most popular piece of content, driving traffic and ironically enough, bringing in new clients. “People seem to like that vulnerability and candor and once they relate to you — flaws and all — they seem to be more comfortable doing business with you. Transparency is something I now carry throughout my business, from pricing to strategy to open communication with clients and employees,” DePhillips shared. 2. “Your team makes or breaks you..”Generally speaking, Julie Cole lives by the mantra "there are no failures, only lessons." However, that doesn’t mean it’s been easy-peasy growing her company, Mabel’s Labels. As the co-founder and senior director, it was difficult to hire and manage staff when she grew. Business is indeed, personal, and the people who work for your company reflect your brand. This means they can make or break your company — either through their smart actions or their poor choices. I was holding on to staff too long, even when they were not a fit or the company outgrew themShe shared: “It is always difficult to let staff go, but at the end of the day, you need a strong team with the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus.”Once she started to be more proactive and selective about her employees, she hired slowly and fired quickly, all in an effort to protect her brand and her bottom line. This resulted in more confidence, a fearless approach to business, and a strong retention rate. “We learned to develop and understand our company’s core values. In doing this, we could integrate our core values in our interview process and ensure we made smart hires. We try to hire and fire by our core values,” she explains. “We allow people to be 'intrapreneurial' in their jobs and we don’t micromanage them. Having a successful team makes for a successful business.”3. “You have to own your brand.”As the co-founder of Feel Good Foods, Vanessa Phillips has gone through many hurdles growing her company. Though some of it has been triumphs, she has also endured some failures. One notable failure involved preparing for a launch with a manufacturer who said everything would be covered. Phillips trusted them, and was excited to see them in the freezers of a large supermarket chain. However, as things developed, Feel Good Foods quickly realized the taste wasn’t up to their standards. Since they pride themselves on wholesome, delicious meals that are also nutritionally-sound, they were anxious about this misstep. Luckily, it was early into their company and they’ve recovered since, but it was a great lesson for Phillips. Nobody is going to watch your products and execute them the way that you would. "As we get bigger we have to trust the people around us a bit more but the once thing that cannot suffer is product integrity,” she continues. “This is so important and it's something you cant take your eyes off of even for one second, especially when product quality is the number one attribute of your product line.”4. “Call yourself what you are — and be proud.”Since she was a child, Dia Bondi says hustle has been at her core. She valued autonomy, adventure and creation. But as she started to dabble into an independent career, calling herself a coach and facilitator in the world of leadership communications, someone offered her an in-house gig. She did it to fit in — not because it was actually what she wanted to do with her profession. “It didn’t take long to see that this was a mistake. Some love the predictability and rhythm of a regular work day, to me it was a straitjacket. For some, being on the same team for a long time is a comfort, for me it was a bore,” Bondi explained. “My ability to contribute in meaningful ways withered." I couldn't stay connected to my creative self, my drive suffered. My light started to go out.So, she quit. She went back and developed her company, Ask Like An Auctioneer and now she guides professionals through their hurdles — personally and professionally. “I intentionally decided to trust my hustle, to dip back into the autonomous adventure of entrepreneurship. With no real plan, I rented a space and got back to work. It didn’t take long for my spark to come back,” she shared. “When I finally accepted my entrepreneurial self and recognized that was my way in the world, what I do and who I am became so much more aligned. And that’s made me more courageous, energized and have the kind of impact I can be proud of.”5. “Accept your weaknesses — and change them.”Though it might seem silly to take out a $100K loan when your business was facing bankruptcy, it was actually the right choice for Jessica Zimmerman. And it was the answer to the biggest mistake she made: not preparing herself for a career as an entrepreneur. In 2011, she bought an event business in the wedding industry, ready to hustle and watch her career skyrocket. Her predecessor went over the rental prices and she took everything as gospel, without doing research on the actual fair market price. She would make $20K in a month — but spend $21K. She would spend her days trying to book clients, her nights worrying about paying employees, and eventually, she knew something had to change. The answer? Going back to school so she could understand business basics. “But in order to get the education I needed, I’d have to put my business, and my all-hustle-all-the-time attitude on pause for an entire year. So I convinced the bank to give me a $100,000 loan, enabling me to spend twelve months learning how to turn my business around,” she shared. Today, her company is a 7-figure business, and she’s grateful she accepted her weakness and sought to change them. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that failure is inevitable. But if you’re willing to learn and grow, then failure isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something that happens for you.

The Most Surprising People on Forbes' Highest-Paid Celebrities List for 2019
Motivation

The Most Surprising People on Forbes' Highest-Paid Celebrities List for 2019

Ever wonder who leads the world’s wealth? Or which celebrities bring home the most bacon? Are they really as different from us as we think? While there are some folks who always grace Forbes' annual collection of the highest-earning entertainers in the business — looking at you Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen — there are many you likely wouldn’t expect. From international Formula One speed demons to legal icons, there are many celebrities who snag a spot thanks to their massive yearly earnings. What can we learn from their massive success?Here are this year’s surprising contenders you need to know about: Judy Sheindlin Yearly income: $49 million Her actual name is Judith Susan Sheindlin but you know her by another name: Judge Judy.Born and raised in Brooklyn, by Jewish parents who had immigrated from Germany, the New York native studied law in the city, became a prosecutor, and then made her name as a tough family court judge in Manhattan before being discovered by TV producers.These days — or rather, for the past few decades — she’s starred as the infamous Judge Judy, who is quick with words and wit, on daytime TV.At the age of 76, she’s still going strong — and has taken home 4 Daytime Emmy Awards in her tenure. Her contract has been extended into a whopping 25th season of Judge Judy.Canelo AlvarezYearly income: $94 millionIf you’re a fan of boxing, you may know this name, or another he goes by: Canelo -- a nickname the Mexican fighter got thanks to his red hair.Canelo is definitely a force to be reckoned with since he began boxing at age 15, considering he’s held world championships in not one, not two but three weight classes. He’s also held the title of lineal middleweight since 2018 and the WBA super-middleweight title, too.He's been called the world’s best active boxer, and within the athletic community, his ability to counterpunch is unmatched. Psst: this is lingo for the ability find openings in his opponent, without getting punched first, himself. James PattersonYearly income: $70 millionIf you’re an avid mystery or murder reader, you’ll know this name right off the bat. But if you only dabble into reading as a pastime, you might recognize him — but not be able to pinpoint his works. James Patterson is best known for many series, including Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Daniel X, NYPD Red, and Private, among others. He’s also had many stand-alone successes in the thriller, non-fiction, and romance novel category.What few realize is just how much Patterson takes up the shelves of bookstores: he’s written 147 novels since 1976. Of those, he’s had 114 best-sellers. He also has the (impressive!) title as the most number one NYT best-sellers of a single author, with 67.If you calculate it, of all of the novels sold in the United States, 6 percent are Patterson’s. He has poured millions of dollars back into his audience, donating money to universities and libraries to ensure there will be a new generation of readers to love his work -- and the work of other great writers.Sebastian VettelYearly income: $40.3 millionGo, go, go — or as they say in Germany: gehen, gehen, gehen! This racing driver sits behind the wheel of a Scuderia Ferrari and often leads the pack of Formula One races — quite literally. In fact, Sebastian Vettal has won four of the world championships.Thanks to partnerships with Red Bull and Ferrari, he’s amassed an impressive net worth and even taken home some records, including the youngest-ever to hold a world title in Formula One.While he’s only managed to scoot into the runner-up spot in recent years, many still consider him one of the greatest drivers, ever. He got his start thanks to his early passion for go-karting at the age of three, and has been racing ever since.Ashkay KumarYearly income: $65 millionUnless you’re a Bollywood fan, you probably don’t recognize this actor’s name — yet anyway.Born in India, but popular in Canada as an actor, television personality, stuntman and producer, he’s graced the stage for more than 110 movies. With riveting, captivating performances, he’s taken home two Filmfare Awards and one National Film Award.Of all Bollywood actors, he’s been the first and only to work in movies that grossed more than 290 million. Since many Hindi generations admire his work and aspire to have his success, he was given an honorary Doctorate on Kumar, and was given the impressive and rare Padma Shri by the Indian Government in 2009. Sofia VergaraYearly income: $43 millionTo watch her is to love her, and this Colombian-American actress has captivated the hearts of millions.Vergara first moved to America from Colombia to escape the violence and danger that surrounded her upbringing. While her first gigs were hosting television shows for Univisión, a Spanish-speaking network, she’s gone on to star in successful English-language movies and TV shows, like Modern Family, which has made her the highest paid actress in television.In addition to her various endorsements and work as a producer, Vergara is also a cancer survivor and mother who passed her American citizenship test with a perfect score. Looking for ways to give back, Vergara has undertaken charitable efforts that benefit the Latinx crowd and inspire young actresses to shoot for their dreams, too.

What Happened When I Stopped Checking My Email at Night?
Mindset

What Happened When I Stopped Checking My Email at Night?

At a cafe table, at sunset, in Copenhagen, my partner and I shared the uncomfortable silence. I had broken one of our cardinal rules for meals by looking at my phone — and worse, checking my email. Though we both lead very busy and successful careers, the time we have to reconnect over food is reserved for us, and even if we only have twenty whole minutes to down something quick, we use the time to be device-free. But, in the true essence of an entrepreneur, I felt the need to "check in" because, thanks to a time difference, the United States was in full working mode while Denmark was clocking out for the day. It wouldn’t have been a big deal — and he likely wouldn’t have noticed — if I didn’t open my inbox to see a (rather rude) email from a client. It put me in a sour mood and supercharged my anxiety, leaving me unable to focus on anything else.Ever-calm and patient — two qualities I don’t relate to — my partner reached for my hand. He asked a question I’ll never forget:“But what would change if you didn’t read that email until tomorrow morning?”For a moment, my anger spiked: didn’t he get frustrated with work sometimes, too? Wasn’t I there for him when he was nervous? But before I responded with something sassy, I took a sip of my aperol spritz and actually gave thought to his inquiry: if I didn’t see this email until the a.m. — was anything going to be different? Was I really going to rush home right this second to clear up a few questions on my (perfectly fine) article? The answer was clear: I’m not a news writer, so why am I acting like one?I was two years into being my own bossThat simple exchange had a lasting impact on how I balance work and life. More than that, it affected how I manage expectations of my clients and of myself, since an non-traditional job doesn’t always come with a rule book. Though I did hustle hard to build a career that’s flexible and on my own terms, the same is true for much of the world, outside of the United States. Many companies encourage their employees to invest in their families and to truly sign-off when they’ve finished their meetings of the day. In France, it’s illegal for bosses to expect you to answer email after workIn my partner’s home country of Denmark, it’s rare to be asked to work overtime. None of the friends we have visited there — from lawyers to bankers — harp on about their inboxes. They simply log out. Though it isn’t always 100 percent achievable and the hours are never consistent, once I close my laptop for the day… I don’t look at email again. The change it’s made in my work ethic, my happiness, and my ability to focus has been tremendous. Here, a few learnings I’ve developed since imposing this rule on my workflow:I’m more productiveSure, there are some days when I wake up and can’t imagine stringing sentences together, much less a full article — or three. I used to give myself an "out" by saying I could work as late as I needed to, since hey, I’m the captain of my own career. Now, I have something to look forward to: being offline for a full evening. Knowing that I won’t need to check and respond to emails, or follow-up on stories after hours challenges me to be productive from the time I wake up until I tuck myself in.I sleep betterPerhaps the biggest change of all is in my quality of rest. Before I decided checking my email wasn’t worth the anxiety it often caused, I would refresh my inbox consistently, even right before it was time to hit the hay. If there was a stressful email lurking, I would think about it, causing me to toss-and-turn and have trouble falling asleep. Now, there may be a difficult situation to wake up to, but at the very least, I’m well-rested and prepared to tackle whatever might be waiting for me.I’ve created boundaries and respectNot everyone has the type of career that allows them to be fully offline every evening. But people often create stress for themselves in an effort to show off how eager, efficient, and available they are. Though this might send a message that you're hardworking, it may not be the reputation you want to have for the duration of a contract, project, or job. By logging off and not responding until the morning, I’m setting a precedent of what I’m willing to contribute, how important it is to have downtime and that when I’m online, I’m fully there and ready for work. It was scary at first, sure, to not be "on" all hours of all days, but guess what? I’ve yet to lose a client -- and I’ve even gained a few in the process. I’m more satisfied with my work — and my lifeWhen I used to meet friends for happy hour drinks, a workout class or dinner during the work week, I would check in on my email when I went to the bathroom. You know "just in case" something was urgent. Now, when I feel that urge, I remember that unless I have a very demanding client or I expect a round of edits to come that need my urgent attention, it can wait until the morning. This makes me a more active participant in conversations with my pals and my partner. In other words: I’m more present and thus, it makes me happier.

5 Daily Habits to Steal From Nicole Kidman
Self-Development

5 Daily Habits to Steal From Nicole Kidman

You know her most recently for her award-winning performance in HBO’s hit series Big Little Lies — but Australian-American actress and producer Nicole Kidman has been gracing audiences for decades. Kidman's performances have earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, and an Academy Award. Since breaking into show business in the early 1980s in the land down under, she’s become one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, as well as one of the most influential people. With lead roles in many iconic films including Batman Forever, Eyes Wide Shut, The Hours, Moulin Rouge, Cold Mountain, Stoker, and countless others, her net worth has skyrocketed to an estimated $130 million. In addition to her career accolades, she’s also been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF since 1994 and for UNIFEM since 2006.Let Nicole Kidman's habits and mantras inspire you to give back:1. She marches to the beat of her own drumIn an interview with Vanity Fair, Kidman was clear nothing has quite changed since she started acting 30 years ago. Not only does she march to the beat of her own drum, so to speak, but more importantly, she is careful about her projects, and only selects those that she ‘vibrates with.’ In this way, she describes herself as very left-handed and lateral — with a weird taste. “I’ve done weird films and I’ve done things that are so obtuse, which I’m still committed to because I like performance art and not conforming to what everyone expects of you. I don’t think in normal terms,” she told Vogue. Perhaps her husband, singer-songwriter Keith Urban, describes her best: “You’re so not mainstream.” Kidman thinks it’s important to only do those things that speak to you. After all, she believes you’re the only one who can tell yourself when you’re "over." “There isn’t a shelf life like there used to be. That’s why it’s so important to keep changing. We live longer now, if we’re fortunate. So there has to be a place to put all that creative energy," she shares.2. She sees fear — and walks through itGrowing up, Kidman’s mom challenged everything: her daughter, the system, anything. This gave Kidman a backbone and it helped her to develop a different relationship with fear than most people may experience. Though in an interview with Vogue she admitted she sometimes wishes she had a mother who coddled her and told her she was wonderful, she raised a woman who was determined to push through anything — including those experiences that frightened her the most. Even so, Kidman doesn’t see herself as fearless, but rather as someone who is fearful at times — and decides to walk toward — and past — it. “I did a play in London recently, and that was really debilitating fear, and every day I just had to go, ‘Okay, get through it.' I had pure stage fright on the side of the stage where I would have rapid heartbeat and that was frightening, but it was one of those things of just going, 'I just have to work through this,' and I think I've just always been compelled to do that,” she told W Magazine. 3. She owns her mistakes and successesIf you ask those who have found the most success and peace in their lives, it won’t be because they have a clean slate. It also won’t be due to the fact they’ve made the right decisions or merely stayed on the safe side. Rather, it’s people like Kidman who aren’t afraid to be human — both in good times and in the sour ones. Jane Campion has worked with Kidman since the early 1980s spoke volumes of her resilience to Vogue. “She has the humility to reorganize herself. if something didn’t work, it didn’t work. It’s a key quality to be able to call a blunder a blunder and to say, ‘I want to fix it.’ I’ve seen how low she has been, and how she’s pulled herself back. It’s inspiring.” 4. She feels everything, onscreen and offIn every great relationship, there’s a balance of personalities. For Kidman and Urban, the same could be said — even if she believes her husband is better at feeling something and then letting it go. As for Kidman? She told Vogue she doesn’t "skim" what she’s processing, and allows herself to be vulnerable and real. “He says I’m an actor and he’s just a performer, an extrovert. He gets up onstage and connects with his audience every night through songs and joy and love. Darkness is not a huge part of his art,” she explained.While it could seem like a negative quality, Kidman believes it’s paid off in her career, especially since part of being an actress is connecting with audiences and putting yourself deeply into character development. “I’m far more raw and honest now, because before I used to be so scared. So now I’m just like, ‘What the hell. Share, share ideas, share,’” she told Vanity Fair. “And it’s not safe to do that sometimes, because you’re suddenly exposed. But at the same time it makes you feel closer to people.”5. She acknowledges the beauty of timeWhen you page through the chapters of your life, there are always stand-out moments that replay. But as you collect more candles on your birthday cake, you may feel as if time has been the biggest blessing of all. At least that’s the case for Kidman, who told Vogue everything becomes more meaningful as we get older. “It’s crazy. Big Little Lies means more. Lion’s success means more than Moulin Rouge’s success. When you’re young you have that slightly laissez-faire approach to everything. I know what Vogue is in the world. It’s an institution, and to have been on it is ‘wow!’More daily habits to steal:5 Daily Habits to Steal From Reese Witherspoon, Including Leaning Into Fear5 Daily Habits to Steal From Chris Hemsworth,Including How to Fight Boredom5 Daily Habits to Steal From Chrissy Teigen, Including How She Makes Herself HeardDaily Habits to Steal From Keanu Reeves, Including How Tragedy Motivates Him

5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Leonardo DiCaprio's Passion
Studying

5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Leonardo DiCaprio's Passion

You know him from his performances on the big screen for the past few decades — but there’s more to this suave actor than his career. Academy Award-winning actor, producer and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio has built a legacy through his impressive character work and his investment within the Hollywood community. He’s also a passionate activist for the environment and often speaks out vocally about global warming. Though he’s never married or had children, his big abode is full of… books! Before beginning any on-screen gig, he always reads the text that inspired the scenes first. Of course, he also reads just for fun and inspiration, depending on the season. Here are a few books you can steal from DiCaprio’s bookshelf:The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway When it came out in the mid-80s, The Garden of Eden was a best-seller, and happens to be the last book the iconic author Ernest Hemingway ever penned. According to an interview with America Reads Spanish, DiCaprio raved about this masterpiece — alongside a few other Hemingway novels, including The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms. He likes them so much he would page through them in his second language. “One of my favorite authors is Ernest Hemingway… he is not Spanish but he was in love with the Spanish culture. Many things I learn from your country [Spain] are through his eyes,” he shared.The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldUnless you’re a megafan of F. Scott Fitzegerald (like me!), you probably haven’t read this legendary tale since high school. Maybe DiCaprio’s fascination with it could persuade you to give The Great Gatsby another go as an adult. Especially since he had a starring role in the film, it makes sense that he would have added it to his own library. In discussing the experience with Time, he shared he was attracted to the role of Gatsby because he liked “the idea of a man who came from absolutely nothing, who created himself solely from his own imagination. Gatsby’s one of those iconic characters because he can be interpreted in so many ways: a hopeless romantic, a completely obsessed wacko, or a dangerous gangster, clinging to wealth.” Revolutionary Road by Richard YatesThis provocative book rings a little too true to home for some American households. So does the movie, which DiCaprio starred in alongside talented actress (and his good friend) Kate Winslet. In an interview with GQ, he said Revolutionary Road was a classic for a reason: “The conversations that each character has in his or her head… While I’m sitting here kissing my wife and telling her how much I love her, and how everything is gonna be okay, there’s this inner voice that just detests her and detests my life and knows I’m lying about everything. That inner dialogue in the book was fabulous for all of us.”This Changes Everything by Naomi KleinDiCaprio had a conversation with Naomi Klein after reading her take on how climate change impacts everything — including our financial picture. In an effort to argue that the more we invest in the planet, the more we build our stability, many people say This Changes Everything one of those books you can’t put down and that keeps you thinking for long after you turn the last page. In an interview with Wired, DiCaprio revealed what he thought: “I once was talking to Naomi Klein, who to me is one of the most powerful voices in the climate movement. She wrote a book called This Changes Everything, and it’s about capitalism versus the environment. And look, everyone loves money, I love money — we live in the United States. This is a capitalist country. But ultimately we’ve locked ourselves, through capitalism, into an addiction to oil that’s incredibly hard to reverse.”The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom HartmannDiCaprio produced The Eleventh Hour and the HBO special, Ice on Fire, Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight — both of which discuss environmental issues. With the hope of provoking urgency and inspiring others to do the same, he developed these programs after reading this comprehensive book that doesn’t just talk about the bad stuff, but gives solutions on what to do. More inspiring book recommendations:4 Life-Changing Books That Inspire George Clooney to Challenge Himself5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired LeBron James to Keep Winning6 Life-Changing Books That Inspired J.K. Rowling to Write4 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Madonna to be Fearlessly Different

5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Ready to Shine in 2020
Career Growth

5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Get Ready to Shine in 2020

Do you know what date it is? Or rather, what month? The midway mark of 2019 has already come and gone — and we’re getting closer and closer to 2020. Though it’s important to live in the moment in most situations, when it comes to your career, thinking ahead is beneficial. In fact, leadership development and career expert Elizabeth Whittaker-Walker says many professionals feel a variety of emotions as they star down the second-half of the year. “Most people find themselves shocked that so much of the year has gone by,” says Whittaker-Walker. “For some, the thought of the coming seasons and new opportunities on the horizon are exciting. Others are met with anxiety, as it may feel like there’s not enough time to get all of the things done that have not yet been accomplished.”The good news? There is still plenty of time to set yourself for success in the coming year by rolling up your sleeves and getting started ASAP.Here's what you can do to prep for 2020 now:1. Review your goals -- short and long-termThe most strategic executives are highly skilled at setting goals. Not just the ones they can meet in the immediate future, but also the ones that push them to stay focused for the long haul. Amy Cooper Hakim, Ph.D., an industrial-organizational psychology practitioner and workplace expert says it’s important to check-in with yourself on how you’re tracking. “Are your everyday activities helping you to accomplish your short-term goals? Are you making important business connections and working on meaningful projects? It is important to ensure that daily activities help you to accomplish short-term goals, and that short-term goals lead to accomplishment of broader, larger goals and objectives,” she explains.She also stresses that it’s okay to change directions and shift your deadlines. In other words: maybe what you wanted in the long-term six months ago isn’t what’s on your mind today. “Make adjustments, as needed, based on where you see yourself in one, five, and ten years. Ensure that short- and long-term goals align,” she recommends. It can be helpful to write down goals with good old fashioned pen and paper, and then hang them in a place you can see them. This helps motivate you and keep you working toward something larger than the day-to-day grind. 2. Nurture relationshipsWhen you think back on the last few months, it may seem like a blur of meetings, emails, travel and conversations. This makes pinpointing specific memories difficult, and can cause you to forget just how many people you’ve met this year. Whittaker-Walker says most professionals would be surprised by the vast amount of networking that goes unnoticed or continued. Consider this your wake-up call to check in. “If there are a few folks in your contacts list that you haven’t spoken with lately, this is a great time to reach out and check-in,” she continues. “Perhaps someone is changing jobs, launching a new role, or in need of a listening ear. Use this season to catch-up, reconnect, and nurture the relationships that help you stay grounded, inspired, motivated and sharp.” 3. Request a planning meeting with your bossWhen you think about the next year — do you see yourself staying at the same job? If so, do you want a raise? A promotion? A lateral shift — or a complete pivot? Whatever your intentions, Hakim suggests setting up a meeting with your manager now. This not only shows how much you value your job and how committed your are to the company, but it’ll give you a head start on your colleagues, who don’t think about planning their futures until it’s review season. “If you are interested in remaining with your organization in 2020, take initiative and ask your boss how you may best be of help as you wrap-up 2019,” Hakim explains. “Don’t be shy to mention some top projects you’d like to lead or a new goal you’d like to hit next quarter or next year.”If you have been browsing through job openings lately because you’ve felt less than stoked about your current gig, Whittaker-Walker suggests using this as motivation to dive into your own description. Especially if you have been at your company for many years, your roles and responsibilities may have shifted dramatically and significantly – without reward or recognition. “Does your title adequately speak to the nature of your work? Are you meeting objectives? Are there opportunities to explore untapped functions of your role? Is it still aligned to your purpose? These are great questions to ask yourself when revisiting your job description,” she explains. If you discover you’re performing above and beyond, you definitely don’t need to wait until review season to ask for the extra money or title you’ve earned. “Discuss any variances you experience with your manager. Your thoroughness could position you for a title change, promotion, or special recognition for stretch roles you’ve taken on,” she says. “It could also help you understand points of dissatisfaction in your work and give you the clarity you need to explore a change.”4. Invest in yourselfThere’s a difference between being comfortable in your position and being complacent. If you can’t remember the last time you gave any thought to your LinkedIn profile, your resume or your skill set, you now have a solid five months to invest in… yourself. Hakim suggests joining a professional organization, taking a virtual course, brushing up your personal brand and other career-oriented activities that will have you soaring ahead, instead of sitting pretty. 5. Reflect on lessons learnedRather than giving into the Sunday scaries, pour yourself a glass of something bubbly while the sunshine is still out and think about your accomplishments. Your lessons. Your achievements. With a solid hour to really dive deep into your internal wisdom and to celebrate your progresses, Whittaker-Walker says you’ll gain valuable insights. “A lot can happen in 6-months, but sometimes life moves so fast that we don’t take time to reflect on all we’ve learned,” she explains. “Maybe you learned some new ways to approach communication with a particular colleague. You may have even learned that a midweek workout can make the difference between a stressful and easy work week. Take note of your discoveries and think about ways you can apply these lessons with intention as you move into the new year.”

Beyond the Sun: 6 Unexpected Reasons You Need Vitamin D
Physical Health

Beyond the Sun: 6 Unexpected Reasons You Need Vitamin D

As summer is entering its last few weeks of high season, you might be mourning the sun already. Especially if you happen to live in areas of the globe where it gets cooler faster, you may struggle with a lack of vitamin D as soon as fall rears its chilly temperatures. While the bright blue sky and its rays are definitely a source of this all-important supplement, it’s not the only way we consume it. And though we already know how it does wonders for our happiness and mood, vitamin D also has a laundry list of underrated benefits you might not realize. Here's what you need to know about how Vitamin D:1. Vitamin D isn’t a vitamin — it’s a hormoneThe name "vitamin D" is actually misleading, if you ask dermatologist Dr. Pamela M. Carr. In fact, it’s a hormone that’s produced in our liver and kidneys. Our bodies creates 90 percent of the vitamin D levels, while our diets contribute the rest. “The body makes Vitamin D in a chemical reaction when sunlight hits the skin,” she explains. When we aren’t in the hayfever of 70-something days, she says we can take supplements to make up the rest since our system isn’t cranking it out normally. 2. It helps you look youngerThough there is no fountain of youth that can be bottled up, vitamin D does work wonders for your overall skin condition, glow, and age. In other words: products that feature vitamin D as a leading ingredient contribute to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism, according to Inna Knyazevych, an esthetician at InGlo Medspa. When you don’t get enough vitamin D? Your pores will let you know, too. “Vitamin D deficiency can lead to your skin becoming thinner and more fragile,” Knyazevych explains. “It will begin to sag from inadequate support and dryness and wrinkles will gradually set in.”3. It’s an anti-inflammatory superstarIf you’re someone who suffers from inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and rosacea, topical agents that contain vitamin D will help alleviate your symptoms, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky, MD, PhD. It will soothe your pores and diminish the pain, as well as shorten your recovery time between breakouts. Some patients who suffer from very low blood levels have seen an improvement in their energy levels, too, too.4. It’s good news for our bonesRemember those "Got Milk?" advertisements from the early 2000’s featuring Britney Spears, Brooke Shields and other celebrities? Considering vintage these days, they were promoting the key ingredient of vitamin D that’s found in this breakfast beverage. Why is it so important? Dr. Carr says nearly every cell in our body is a receptor for vitamin D and it affects many functions. Ensuring we balanced levels will maintain our vitality. “The right amount of Vitamin D helps make calcium available for strong healthy bones. But too little Vitamin D raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, a poorly functioning immune system, diabetes and multiple sclerosis,” Carr warns.5. It builds our musclesFor frequent gym-goers, a healthy amount of vitamin D can maintain your muscle strength — and help you recover faster post-workout. As Dr. Kachiu C. Lee, MD MPH explains, this is true starting from a young age, since children with hereditary vitamin D deficiency have profound muscle weakness and are often prescribed a vitamin D supplement to alleviate their struggles. To ensure you’re feeding your bod what it needs, Dr. Lee suggests an orange-juice based smoothie after your next fitness session.6. It could fight against colon cancer.According to Dr. Lee, 17 studies that researched 5,700 people with colon cancer and 7,100 without it found an association between low vitamin D levels and this specific strain of illness. Though it’s unclear what the mechanisms are behind it, Dr. Lee says it’s never a bad idea to maintain healthy levels of this hormone, especially if it could give you a helping hand against serious diseases.

5 Daily Habits to Steal From Chrissy Teigen
Self-Development

5 Daily Habits to Steal From Chrissy Teigen

To follow Chrissy Teigen on Instagram or Twitter is to love her. This model, author, chef, host, and mom of two says it like it is — and does it all with a laugh. Her relationship with husband John Legend, her experiences in parenting, and her cooking skills make her social media stream an engaging and hilarious destination. Throughout her career as a model, she’s graced the covers of many mags from Sports Illustrated to Cosmopolitan and walked runways. Her cookbooks have topped best-seller lists, and her hosting of Lip Sync Battle has received rave reviews. With a networth of $26 million — and growing — this superstar (and supermom) has a few metrics of life she subscribes to. Here, a few of Chrissy's daily habits to inspire you:1. She uses her kids as motivation — in more ways than oneAs any new parent will share, there’s nothing quite like the transformation of bringing a child into the world. For Teigen, who has openly shared many of her struggles with both infertility and postpartum depression, adding "mom" to her laundry list of titles has fundamentally changed her perspective of the world. One of the most powerful ways is her new way of viewing the world through her daughter’s eyes. “Luna’s bringing out so much of my personality that I was too anxious to share in the outside world before. Now, I get to be goofy and silly. Luna has this crazy obsession with having me do her nails, so when you find things that they love, you turn that into entertainment, like ‘Oh my gosh, let’s have a tea party with lion and Big Bird. Pick a nail color and Mommy will do your nails,’” she shared with Good Housekeeping. “She finds joy in these little things and they're the kind of thing that she will talk about all week at school, and I have a feeling that it’ll be the kind of thing that she’s going to remember when she’s older. 2. She knows that she has the power to change her own mindEveryone has those moments when they glance at the mirror and they aren’t satisfied with the reflection they see. This is true even for a mega model like Teigen, who had to learn to shift her negative thoughts toward her body, post-babies. In an effort to celebrate the tremendous power of a woman’s body and accept herself for every little piece of a person she is, Teigen focused on self-talk. “It’s all about trying to be happy with myself. Because I’m not blind: I see my body, I see the difference in shape, I see that I gained weight. But I also see with those same eyes that I have a beautiful baby boy, and this little girl that’s relentless and amazing, and I am very happy,” she shared with Good Housekeeping. “This is a new thing that I can change within my mind, that I don’t have to be a swimsuit model anymore. I get to be a mommy, and I get to cook, and I get to meet incredible people, and I’m happy to be going through this transition.”3. She takes it one day at a timeIn addition to her many, many roles, Teigen is an entrepreneur and continues to have various gigs that add to her empire. But if you call it an ‘empire’ — she would probably shake her head. When Elle asked her if she was going to build a large company like Gwyneth Paltrow, she admits she’s more of a ‘day-at-a-time’ type of gal. “I have no idea what I’m doing next week, let alone next year. I don’t plan things, honestly. I never had any set goals. What motivated me was seeing other people do stuff. Like, ‘Wow, she has a cookbook and she’s not a chef, so I can have a cookbook now?’ That’s how I grew in confidence,” she revealed.4. She gives a f*** — and she’s fine with thatIf you don’t follow Teigen on Insta or Twitter — consider this your wakeup call. With genuinely funny and gut-wrenchingly honest responses to modern culture, other celebs and political figures, she’s outspoken — and unapologetic. While it may come across she’s careless about her public opinion, she told Vogue it’s quite the opposite. In fact, the views of others weigh heavily on her: “Much stronger people are like ‘I don’t care what you think.’ I genuinely do care. I think it’s funny when people are like, ‘I love how you just don’t give a f---.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I give so many f---s.’ I want to be liked.” 5. She found her voice early on -- even when others didn’t want to listenPart of developing a brand — whether you’re in influencer or just an aspirational professional — is staying true to your colors. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore, Teigen called herself stubborn and happy because she didn’t listen to critics who wanted her to pipe down. “It wasn’t really an accepted thing within my modelling and TV career early on. I would get in trouble, lots of phone calls from agents saying ‘Why did you tweet this? Now we’re in trouble with such-and-such a contract because you were too outspoken,’” she continues. “I got so much feedback that I needed to watch my mouth if I wanted to work with certain people. And I remember sobbing so much because it was just the worst feeling, letting people down. I definitely lost work because people would shy away from being associated [with me], and I totally get it, too—they have to appeal to everybody.”But now? She’s an open book — and that’s just fine with her: “I feel like everyone knows what they’re getting now and it’s a very comfortable place to be in life."More inspiring celebrities:5 Daily Habits to Steal From Nicole Kidman5 Daily Habits to Steal From Reese Witherspoon, Including Leaning Into Fear5 Daily Habits to Steal From Chris Hemsworth, Including How to Fight BoredomDaily Habits to Steal From Keanu Reeves, Including How Tragedy Motivates Him