Smart Pretty and Awkward

“Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential” — Winston Churchill

Molly Ford — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:05:11 +0000

How to be Smarter: Rules of a Creator’s Life. (I especially like number six). How to be Prettier: I’m seeing a lot of orange-tangerine in springtime clothes this year; this skirt is one of my favorite pieces I’ve seen so far in the color. (Reminder: With the promo code SMARTER, you can get 30% off a [...]

“When someone dies, that strength doesn’t go away. It goes to the people who need it” — Jim Craig

Molly Ford — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:29:19 +0000

How to be Smarter: To become better at something, whether it’s a skill or a character trait, simply: 1. do it over and over and over again and 2. be open to hearing suggestions on how you could improve. Nobody ever got worse at something by practicing and asking someone trusted for feedback on their [...]

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage” — Lao Tzu

Molly Ford — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:33:08 +0000

How to be Smarter: I read this blog post about word usage a week ago, and it really touched me. How to be Prettier: If there is a beauty product you are constantly forgetting, like sunscreen or wrinkle cream, put the container next to your toothbrush (or another item on the bathroom counter you use each day). Just having [...]

“It’s odd how people waiting for you stand out far less clearly than people you are waiting for” — Jean Giraudoux

Molly Ford — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:58:26 +0000

How to be Smarter: If you always make mountains out of molehills, the only thing people will trust you to manage is molehills. How to be Prettier: I’m really trying to take shorter showers, as it dries out my skin less in the winter and is better for the environment. Getting a shower clock has been [...]

“Hey, you good ones” — Nada Surf, “Always Love”

Molly Ford — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:10:53 +0000

How to be Smarter: The problem isn’t a lack of good ideas, it’s not remembering your good ideas. I bet if for one week–maybe one day–you wrote down each and every idea that came into your head, without pre-censoring out the “bad ones,” you would have a pretty interesting list of activities to do, businesses [...]

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university” — Albert Einstein

Molly Ford — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:45:58 +0000

How to be Smarter: When moving, set aside a screwdriver to put at the top of one of the boxes. It will probably be one of the first things you need in your new house, and you don’t want to dig through a bunch of boxes to find it. How to be Prettier: If you are heading out [...]

“The friend who holds your hand and says the wrong thing is made of dearer stuff than the one who stays away” — Barbara Kingsolver

Molly Ford — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:35:32 +0000

How to be Smarter: In general, there are two reasons for why you should be doing something: either doing it brings you joy, or doing it puts you on a path that will get you closer to your final goal. If something doesn’t fulfill either of these two purposes, it might be time to stop doing it. How to [...]

“If all you can do is crawl, start crawling” — Rumi

Molly Ford — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:58:26 +0000

How to be Smarter: The best thing you can do for your own happiness level is to engage in the job that you do. Ask questions, think strategically, and befriend co-workers. These will all help you in your career path, but, perhaps more importantly, they will help you enjoy the place you spend 8 hours a day. [...]

“If you’re a sports fan you realize that when you meet somebody, like a girlfriend, they kind of have to root for your team. They don’t have a choice” — Jimmy Fallon

Molly Ford — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:16:50 +0000

How to be Smarter: When something sweet spills and you don’t take the time to wipe it up right away, the sugar hardens and bugs are drawn to it. The same way, when someone in a relationship stops being sweet and you don’t take the time to talk about the issue right away, the problem only gets harder [...]

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” — Walt Disney

Molly Ford — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:53:08 +0000

How to be Smarter: Timing is important when approaching someone about a sensitive issue. When you are about to have a serious discussion with someone, chose a time of day when they are not already stressed out and are not busy multitasking. How to be Prettier: Use your ring finger to apply under-eye concealer; it is one of your weakest fingers and [...]

“Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Molly Ford — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:11:16 +0000

How to be Smarter: Trust is a relationship is equal parts trusting the other person, and being trustworthy yourself. How to be Prettier: A fashion/lifestyle blog I really enjoy: Adored Austin. How to be (less) Awkward: If you are invited to attend a concert of a band you are unfamiliar with, before the show take the [...]

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it” — Henry David Thoreau

Molly Ford — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 07:13:24 +0000

How to be Smarter: Great article on effective non-creepy ways to use LinkedIn. How to be Prettier: I’m really loving grey nail polish this season–quirky enough to be different, neutral enough to wear to work, and on-trend. How to be (less) Awkward: Before a plane trip, ask a friend or a crush to suggest a song to [...]