#csuite

TO YOURSELF

The last thing I wanted to talk with you about today is this idea of accountability. It’s a buzz word that gets tossed around and I want to talk about what it actually means.

There are two levels of accountability:

Accountable to Others

This is the foundational element of accountability - "I am going to be accountable to a boss, or my coach, or my wife, etc."

There’s nothing wrong with being accountable to others. But there is a higher level of accountability.

Accountable to Yourself

This is the higher tier of accountability. This is about being a man of your word. This is about taking initiative and understanding that you should be holding yourself to the highest standard – that you don’t need anyone else to keep your feet to the fire and that you can do it for yourself.

Both tiers of accountability are important but we ought to be continually striving for that higher level of accountability to ourselves.

Dear Twenty-Ones,

As we all know, the year 2023 is less than 20 days away. Almost everyone who celebrates feels the need to turn a new leaf. We create a list of resolutions or goals that we would like to achieve in the new year. But many people lose sight of what they want almost a month in. They fall back into old habits or stick to the same old routine.

Yeah… let’s not do that and work for what we really want.

Here are some ways to get started or prepared for the new year 2023🧧

Create your resolution/goal list now. This will allow you to sort through and identify how you would genuinely like your new year to be. Take your time with your list and be honest.

Perform mirror work. Stand in front of the mirror each morning and tell yourself positive affirmations. This will get you in the grove of loving yourself intently and can build your confidence for the new year!

Do at home workouts for the remainder of the year. Many people wait for the new year to begin to get a gym membership. Reasons can vary such as not wanting to be billed the annual payment for this year then subsequently the next. Workout at home to build up strength for the gym.

Set your clock 15 minutes earlier each day. Many people list waking up earlier as a goal for the new year. You can work yourself into doing just that by training yourself. 15 minute increments will allow you to ease into it and build that routine.

Drink 2-3 L of water a day. Wanting better skin for the new year? A healthier lifestyle? Go ahead and drink more water. Add some lemon and mint for a refreshing taste and to detox.

Try out new skincare products. It’s not a secret that Korean skincare has been running the market for the last couple of years. Some suggestions: Soon Jung, Cosrx, The Face Shop, Innisfree. Non-Korean suggestions: Paula’s Choice, CeraVe. I will withhold specific product suggestions for now as to encourage you to do research for your own skin type. But I promise, they work!

Use Gua Sha morning or night. Using the tool can help reduce puffiness in the face. Research different methods on how to use it and get started. If you cannot get a tool, YouTube has many videos about facial hand massages.

Create vision board for 2023 on Pinterest, Tumblr, Canva, etc. Creating your vision board now will help you sort through your goals and ideas for the new year. You can also print it out sooner and post it in places you will be able to see everyday.

Create a bill planner to sort through monthly finances. By using a bill planner, you can determine how much of your money or paycheck you will need to save for monthly bills. In addition to this, you can determine how to use the remainder. For personal use? For vacations? Groceries and projects? Let’s get our finances right in 2023!

Start manifesting. To get started, purchase a small journal/notebook. Write down your manifestations and gratitude. This can be done in the morning or at night, however setting your intentions earlier in the day can help you feel more positive.

Au revoir,

21 O’Clock Blog

Dear Twenty-Ones,

It’s common to want to tell people you know about your achievements and dreams. In hopes of love and support, we share the things we care about most.

It’s normal.

However, should you do it? Yes, but not as often as you think.

Silence…

When you move in silence, you are working towards your goals without speaking of them to others. You don’t post about possible opportunities you have. You don’t tell your acquaintances of the job you just received. You don’t tell your family about the car you will buy.

Moving in silence protects you from negativity and doubt. It keeps you safe from the resentment or jealousy others will have.

Believe it or not, not everyone is on your side. You will have people in your life comfortable with you until you surpass their expectations. They may figure that you will never amount to who they are or what they have done. People with these idealisms will always reveal their true thoughts about you once you start showing up for yourself. Once you achieve things they never thought was possible, they will share their distaste. Unfortunately, your closest friends, family, and even significant other can be one of them.

Social media can play a big factor in halting your actions. Say you post about a secret project you are working on for example. (You call it a secret, but it’s secret to me since your telling people.) Say you will be done with said project in a week and will be revealing it soon. I, your audience, wait the entire week to see what your project is about. I may have built up some excitement for you and really was interested in it. But you don’t post anything. You never talk about your project ever again. That would lead me to believe you gave up or it didn’t work out. Quite embarrassing.

Stop embarrassing yourself. Harsh but true and necessary. Everything is not meant to work out and that is okay. But posting your failures before it even began can lead you to be the butt of a joke. When no one is aware of what you are working on, you can fail comfortably. You can learn from your actions independently and decide what to try next. You do not need an audience for every moment of your life and that is okay. Words without action are simply words.

Think about what you are trying to achieve and if you need the support around you. Not everyone in your life is miserable and would wish failure or harm towards you. But choose your audience wisely. Choose the people who genuinely care. The people who would genuinely show excitement at your excitement alone. Be true to yourself and never hide your shine. If they are too blinded by it, they are not meant to be around you.

Stay safe my friends and before you make that post or tell anyone your business, remember to move in silence.

Au revoir,

21 O’Clock Blog