1. Your Presentation - How do you come across to people when you first meet them? Good presentation can open doors and be the beginning of valuable relationships. Focus on these three areas:
- Learn Effective Communication - This is important for success with family, career, friends, you name it! Learn how to be a good listener. Focus on who you are talking to, and ask questions that show interest. Pay attention to your body language, exude warmth, and make a point of connecting with people. Check out Indeed.com’s advice for being a better communicator.
- Up Your Style - Go through your closet, ditch the old college-worn-out clothes, and invest in fewer pieces of higher quality. You don’t have to spend much money to build a capsule wardrobe of classic pieces with a dash of your personality. Taking pride in your appearance will give you added confidence to take on the world. Check out Men’s Health’s list of 50 Items Every Man Should Have in His Wardrobe.
- Pay Attention to Personal Grooming - As famous designer Christian Dior said, “Simplicity, good taste, and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing, and these do not cost money.” For men, this means managing stray hairs and keeping facial hair maintained. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Set yourself up for success with MicroTouch’s Titanium ROVOR, which takes on the contoured terrain of a man’s face with no nicks or cuts—leaving you smooth to the touch. It can be used wet or dry. For personal grooming beyond where clippers and scissors go, use the MicroTouch Personal Groomer. Never be embarrassed by unruly hairs in your nose, ears, sideburns, goatee, beard, or mustache. This dynamic duo will keep you cleaned up and ready to take on the world!
2. Your Finances - Many people avoid their finances because it’s overwhelming. This is the year to stop sticking your head in the sand. Take control. Start here:
- Goals First! Take time to figure out your financial goals and how to get there. Do you want to buy your first home in the next few years and/or pay off your college debt? Your goal may be to simply live within your means and start saving. First, order a credit report and gather all bills, loans, and financial papers together to fully understand where your money is going each month. Get organized and consider getting advice from a professional to develop a game plan for your future. They will help you understand retirement needs and tax implications and help you create a plan to pay off debt.
- Track Your Progress - Create a budget and track your income/expenses with an app like Mint. Spend the first month monitoring your spending to determine where you spend your money. You’ll determine where you are wasting money, including hidden subscriptions you have forgotten about. Review your significant expenses over the last year to see when they hit. Then, you can adjust spending and save for big costs months in advance.
- Think Long Term - The most significant gift you can give yourself is a long-term financial plan. Take the worry of the future away. Setting aside an emergency fund, retirement money, and paying off debt is worth the short-term sacrifices.
- Read More - No, scrolling TikTok doesn’t count! Reading is good for your brain by improving concentration and memory. It’s a stress reducer, helping you to lose yourself in a story, feed your imagination, and strengthen your creativity. Chances are, you spend more time on social media than reading. It’s a sign of the times! Set yourself a reading goal every day—just 20 minutes to start. It will have far-reaching effects on your life, from improved memory to better communication skills. Treat yourself to a good book and reap the rewards!
- Be Bold - Try new things, and always keep learning. Learning new things enhances your quality of life, gives you more confidence, improves your mental health, and so much more. We live in a day and age when you can be taught about anything online. Check out Masterclass; you can learn from the best, from cooking with Gordan Ramsay to entrepreneurship with Mark Cuban.
- Invest in Your Relationships- Good relationships are vital to mental and emotional well-being. Get to know your neighbors. Be the one in the apartment complex to throw a potluck or have them over for the next football game. Invest in time with parents and siblings. Take a trip home, or rally the family to meet up for a fun adventure. Call your loved ones, not text. Prioritizing time with friends and connection with others is one of the most essential factors in overall well-being.
2024 is your year to make life better than ever. Take small steps - and you’ll be on your way to reaping big rewards! And, to put your best face forward, look to MicroTouch Titanium!