Tag: Self-Improvement

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Tips For Salary Negotiation

After weeks of interviews, finally getting an offer from a company that you’re excited to work for is exciting! But not many unemployed candidates prepare for what’s coming next. Is the offer you received everything that you’re hoping it to be? While salary negotiation is a daunting process, it’s also necessary to ensure that you’re getting what you deserve & what you’re worth. After successfully negotiating my offer package with my new employer, I’m ready & eager to share my tips for salary negotiation.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Sites such as Glassdoor & Payscale will give you a good idea of the salary range of your role based on your years of experience & location. This will give you a good idea of the expected salary. If you’re given salary ranges from other companies in similar roles, make a note of it to better understand the current compensation market rates.

Use your initial offer as a starting point to negotiate. If the initial offer you’re given is outside of your range, use that as a green light for further negotiation. It’s a general rule of thumb when changing companies to aim for at least a 10% base salary increase when moving laterally. If taking on new responsibilities, aim for 15-20% base salary.

DON’T PROVIDE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS FIRST

Most employers don’t publicly list their salary budget. So to get the most lucrative salary range, ask for the company’s salary range first. For example, if the recruiter or hiring manager asks for your salary expectations, simply turn the tables back onto them.

Say this: “I expect to be paid reasonably considering my work history & years of experience, so my salary range is flexible. What’s your current salary range?” Once they provide their range, if it’s far below your expectations, ask: “Is there any flexibility with that range?”

If there’s not, inform the recruiter or hiring manager that you don’t want to waste their time by continuing. If the salary range provided is within your expected salary range, you can respond with: “Ok, great! The higher end of that range works for me.”

This way, you’re getting the salary that you need to live comfortably. Don’t waste your time or the company’s time continuing through a hiring pipeline that you’ll reject at the end of the day.

CONSIDER THE ENTIRE OFFER PACKAGE

While your base salary is an important part of your offer, other benefits are equally important. Are you being given equity in the company? Are you getting great health, vision, & dental benefits?

My new employer offers great parental leave & even fertility support. Our company has mental health recharge days, generous PTO, cell phone reimbursement, & even a learning & development stipend. All of these additional benefits & perks were like a cherry on top of a delicious ice cream sundae.

KNOW THAT THEY ALREADY LIKE & WANT YOU

If you receive an offer, know that everyone that you’ve interviewed with thus far likes & wants to work with you. Use it as a confidence boost. As someone who the team is already eager to have join, they won’t shun or rescind your offer for wanting to negotiate.

Approach negotiation as a collaboration to create an offer that you & your employer are happy with, rather than “being greedy”. Even if you’re in other hiring pipelines or have other offers on the table that pay more, emphasize that you’re not just driven by the cash component of the offer. Reassure them that they’re your number one choice & ask if they’re open to discuss where in your offer there is more leeway or wiggle room.

Using my tips for salary negotiation above, I was recently able to increase my base salary by 18%! While salary negotiation can be daunting, it’s a necessary part of your job search. Most companies expect future candidates to negotiate salaries. By not negotiating, you might unknowingly be leaving money on the table that they already had ready to give you. Take charge of your career & ensure that you are getting what you’re worth!

XO Denise

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Tips For New Managers

Everything that I am, I’ve worked hard to become. Don’t ever be afraid to be ambitious!   

In June 2016, I was promoted to my first management position at IPSY. Though I was eager to make my transition & take on new responsibilities, leading & motivating my team, I remember that I still had a lot to learn. This is why I want to share my tips for new managers today.

Up until my promotion, I was only responsible for my success in my role. It’s always been easy for me to identify how to fulfill my expected tasks & responsibilities, both quickly & efficiently. But now as a leader, I know that my success is dependent on the performance of my team. Their ability to exceed expectations reflects on me as an effective leader, & I can’t feel confident as a “GOOD” boss without seeing my team happy & thriving. So if you’re currently stressing about your transition into a management position, here are some tips to hopefully inspire you & get you started in this next chapter of your career!

Define your personal definition of a “GOOD” boss 

Think about every boss you’ve had in your career. Over time, I’m sure you’ve developed a clear vision of how a good boss looks & acts. Use your former bosses as a guideline into who you want to become. Focus on the positive qualities you want to develop as well as the negative qualities that you want to avoid. 

To me, a good boss takes a genuine interest in everyone around them & wants to see everyone succeed. They are effective communicators & believe in the abilities of their team without needing to micromanage. A good boss knows how to delegate responsibility & work toward overall success for the benefit of everyone. They give praise & credit when it’s due, & they have high emotional intelligence. When you create your personal definition of a good boss, you know what you’re striving for. It’s hard to be an effective leader if you don’t have a clear & succinct idea of what a successful leader looks and acts like.

Once you’ve defined what you need to do to be a good boss, focus on identifying your strengths & weaknesses. No one expects you to be perfect during your initial transition, but identifying the areas where you can improve will help over time. Self-awareness is the first step to improving. It’s always been easy for me to be a good listener. I’m also resourceful, inspiring, & motivating, but I personally have trouble delegating tasks, due to my pride. It’s important to identify where improvement is needed, rather than pretending that your leadership style is perfect. 

Learn about your team & take a genuine interest

It’s important to know your team and take a genuine interest in their growth. How can you help someone succeed, when you don’t even know who they are or how they think? I prioritize having bi-weekly 1 on 1 meetings to catch up on my team’s personal lives as well as to ensure that they feel supported enough to be successful. By asking engaging questions, I’m able to identify any challenges they may be facing. I also strive to instill them with a growth mindset. Just as I’m doing my best to grow, learn, & improve, I want them to believe in themselves & reach their full potential. 

I always want my team to be able to talk to me about anything that may be hindering their performance & not be afraid to use their sick days & Vacation/PTO (Paid Time Off) when they’re feeling burnt out. Maintaining a good work/life balance is just as important for my team as it is for me.

Create a fun working environment

No one should be forced to work in a boring work environment surrounded by robots. The majority of my day is spent working alongside these individuals, and I want to create a fun working environment where they feel free to express themselves. I want to keep morale high, so I prioritize positive team engagement. 

I don’t shy away from acknowledging success & showing my appreciation for hard work. We dress up according to themes on Thursdays, (Check out the past Theme Thursdays I’ve featured on my Instagram!) & I plan birthday celebrations, team lunches, happy hours, & team offsites. Work should be fun because I want my team to be excited to get out of bed every morning. 

Becoming a new manager can be daunting, but hopefully, my advice will help alleviate any anxiety you may be currently feeling. Be upfront & honest with your team & ask for feedback. They’ll understand while you’re learning & still adjusting to your new role. Whenever I ask my own team for feedback on my management style, I’m continually pleasantly surprised by their kind words & compliments. I love seeing the growth, improvement, & success of my team members over time. I promise that it will all be rewarding in the end. 

XO Denise

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What Inspires You?

From my blog archives with a few new edits, I originally wrote this on October 14th, 2016. Enjoy!

Has anyone ever asked you a question that you were completely unprepared to answer? It’s weird how your mind reflects on what you should have said in the moment for days, weeks, months, or even years afterward. A friend of mine recently asked me “What inspires you?“, & I was surprised to discover that I didn’t have a ready, clear, & concise answer for him. Now that I’ve given the question more thought, I’ve found that it’s not necessarily “what” inspires me but rather “who”.

When I’m not focused on a specific task, I find that my mind is in a constant stream of consciousness, flowing endlessly from one thought to the next until I’m suddenly reflecting on something stupid & embarrassing I did when I was in the 5th grade. The most minuscule thought that crosses my mind can inspire a single blog post, but once I forced myself to think beyond that fact, I realized that my main source of inspiration comes from wanting to inspire others on a grander scale.

Last Summer, during a one on one check in with my boss, she asked “What work are you doing that’s most in line with your long term goals?” At the time, I felt a rush of panic wash over me. I knew that persistence and discipline in your every day routine brings you closer to your goals. Because of that, I found myself worrying if anything that I had been doing routinely up until then was actually worthwhile. 

I’ve always known that I wanted to be a successful leader in a field that I was passionate about. It was also imperative for me to help guide and inspire others to do the same. Little did I know that with the time and focus I was already dedicating to blogging & vlogging each day, I was already well on my way to achieving that goal. 

I ASPIRE TO INSPIRE INDIVIDUALS TO EMBRACE THEIR UNIQUENESS AND ENRICH THEIR EXISTENCE.

Since starting my YouTube Channel & blog in May of 2011, I am astounded by the influence I’ve made upon the lives of strangers. It’s empowering to see how my outlets for creativity & self-expression have impacted my family, friends, & several individuals I’ve never even met before.

It’s surreal to think that my content can influence individuals to dream, learn, & believe in themselves. I started my YouTube channel & blog in my early twenties, desperate to give my life more purpose & meaning. I’m honestly just sharing my thoughts & reactions to everyday life, but I’m so grateful to hear that my epiphanies can make such a positive impact. 

YOU INSPIRE ME.

And for that I want to say thank you. I’m so grateful to even have an audience. Without you, my thoughts would remain in my head. You make me feel happy & free to express myself without fear of judgement. I wholeheartedly embrace my unique story, because you make it feel worthy of being heard. You inspire me to keep improving, & in turn, I want to do the same for you. 

I promise to keep creating content & sharing my thoughts with you. If you ever need your spirits lifted, just remember that you are enough. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live a life that you’re excited about. Don’t let anyone make you forget that! 

So now, I ask you the same question… “What inspires you?” Let me know in a comment below.

XO Denise

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How To Build A Personal Brand

Be bold. Be real. Be you.

I may not be an expert, but I’ve definitely learned a lot about building a personal brand over the years. I started my digital journey using an anonymous pseudonym “MorganFreeman7” in May 2011. But as I quickly gained followers in those first few months, it wasn’t long before I realized how important it is to create a strong, authentic personal brand. Rebranding & revealing my true self as “Denise Joyce” was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. So whether you’re just starting out or hoping to improve with hopes of growing & retaining your audience, here are my tips on how to build your personal brand.

Be you.

The first thing that I learned creating content as “MorganFreeman7” was that I didn’t want to gain followers as someone else. Every time I gained a new YouTube subscriber, I felt ashamed that I was hiding behind an anonymous screen name & referring to myself as “Moe”. Don’t build your personal brand around a facade. Authenticity allows your audience to get to know the real you. Your brand should be a reflection of who you are, what you believe, & what you stand for.

If you don’t come across as authentic to your audience, it’s much harder for them to relate & believe in what you have to say. Though I gained a good amount of followers as “MorganFreeman7”, I constantly felt disingenuous. Building a personal brand requires developing an understanding of your true self & choosing to share that person with the world. Don’t be afraid to take off your mask & be vulnerable! Believe me, your audience will appreciate it. 

Build your online presence.

The way you project yourself online becomes your public persona, so you need to be aware of how you’re appearing and coming across to your audience. Be sure to build your online presence in a way that represents your true self & improve upon it on an ongoing basis.
Every so often, take some time out to evaluate your social media profiles. Your online presence should accurately reflect your persona as you continue grow & change. You will always be your best PR, so be sure to interact with your audience as well as other creators in your industry. Even if you get anxious & shy interacting with new people like I do, just go for it! You never know what opportunities await you if you just take a risk & put yourself out there. 

Keep learning.

Industries are constantly changing, so depending on your niche/area(s) of interest, it’s important to stay relevant and up-to-date with new trends. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle if you can’t keep up with any new changes within your market. 
Even if you’re not actively creating content, I encourage you to keep learning. Read books, read blogs, listen to podcasts, or watch videos. Your next exciting burst of inspiration can come from a variety of outlets. I’ve always been an advocate of learning, developing new skills, & expanding your knowledge. I refuse to be complacent.

Be kind to yourself.

Especially if you’re just starting out, understand that it takes a lot of time to build your personal brand. Don’t beat yourself up & compare yourself to someone else who much further along on their journey. As long as you keep moving forward at your own pace, you’ll eventually find what works best for you. 

It’s also good to recognize when you need to take a step back & relax. (Don’t worry – even I have trouble doing this!) In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been told that I’m “overly ambitious” & “addicted to the hustle”. Despite the sincere concern from my peers over my well-being, I usually brush off these types of comments, because I like being driven and ambitious. 

I prefer to wake up each day with purpose & determination, but like they say too much anything is bad for you. Be sure to pay attention to your mind & your body. You’re not going to accomplish much if you end up exhausted mentally & physically. Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re giving up on your dreams, it just means you’re human. Feel free to also check out my recent blog post about my secret to staying productive, if you need help finding the time for self-care!

XO Denise

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What I Learned In My Twenties

From my blog archives with a few new edits, I originally wrote this on December 26th, 2016. Enjoy!

I woke up this morning as I do any other day. Sleepily rising from my bed & wiping my eyes, as I unrolled my pink yoga mat & laid it out on the floor. Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskara) followed by 20 minutes of meditation allows me to set my intentions for the day, feel at one with the universe, & just fills me with positive vibes overall. But as I eased out of my meditative state, reality struck me. It is exactly one week until my 30th birthday!

I’ll be in Vegas on January 2nd, probably drunk & filled with all you can eat sushi. It feels as if it was just yesterday that I was blogging about being 29 & doing things that scare me. This year has been a whirlwind of adventure & immense personal growth. I am so happy to say that I am nothing like my insecure, overly-cautious, early 20-something-year-old self.

In this past decade, I started my own YouTube channel, blog, & built my own personal brand from the ground up across many social media platforms. I’ve also entered into a career in the Beauty Industry, which I never thought I’d do.

If you’re in your early or mid-20s, struggling with finding yourself & forging your own path, don’t worry – I’ve been there too. I’ve learned that the universe tends to unfold as it should, so there’s no use in getting too anxious or worried about what your future will hold. Stay positive, keep moving forward, & never give up hope! If you still don’t believe me, here’s a list of the most important things I’ve learned in my 20s in no particular order.

WE ALL DESERVE TO BE HEARD WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. 

At an early age, my dad instilled the importance of developing my arguments. During family dinners, we would discuss various topics, & I’d only be allowed to participate in the discussion if I was able to provide reasoning for my beliefs & be open to hearing the opposing point of view. I’ve learned that the common phrase “everyone is entitled to their opinion” has become shorthand for “I can say or do anything I want.” This is often why 20-somethings engage in unnecessary arguments ultimately leaving opponents unable to reconcile. Even if you disagree with someone, you should only be entitled to your opinion if you can back it up with good reason.

YOU DON’T NEED TO EXPLAIN YOUR DECISIONS TO ANYONE. 

Don’t be afraid to forge your own path. Not everyone will understand the choices that you make, but they don’t have to. It’s your life, & you’re the only one in charge of your happiness. Don’t ever feel guilty for doing what you think will be best for you. And even if others continue to dissuade you,  you shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes. (Don’t let anyone hold your mistakes over your head either!) Be willing to fail early & often. It’s better to take risks while you’re still young.

BE YOU. 

Be unapologetic of who you are, because, at the end of the day, you’ll be happier. You should never feel the need to hide any parts of yourself. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you. So don’t try to force it if it doesn’t feel right. Be genuine & authentic. The right people will still be around & like you for who you are.

APOLOGIZE AND FORGIVE. 

Holding onto our past mistakes causes a lot of unnecessary turmoil. I’ve learned that holding onto these negative emotions only makes you complacent and petty. Don’t be afraid to apologize to anyone you’ve hurt & forgive anyone who has hurt you. Letting go & taking the high road allows you to grow & become a better person.

TRAVELING IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO REALIZE HOW INSIGNIFICANT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE. 

The life you lead is minuscule in the grand scheme of things. In France, I saw miles of Syrian refugees with nowhere to call home. It made not being able to afford to buy my own home before turning 30 pretty trivial. With so much pain & suffering in the world, be grateful for what you have.

I’ve learned & grown so much in this past decade. I can’t wait to see what my 30s have in store for me. Whether you’re in your early, mid, or late twenties, what are the most valuable things you’ve learned?

XO Denise

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My Secret To Having a Productive Week

“A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.”

Since my life has gotten so busy, I always make sure to block out time for Sunday self-care. If you lead a busy life, I hope that sharing my self-care Sunday routine will help remind you to take time out for yourself when you need it. It’s my secret to having a productive week!

Prayer

After walking & feeding my pug, Pogi, I start every morning by praying. But on Sundays especially, I make sure to thank God for everything I’ve been blessed with & for guiding me through another week. I then say my Catholic prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory Be, because prayer keeps me grounded & humble.

Breakfast

Next, I enjoy a delicious breakfast. I’ve mentioned before that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Whether it’s actual breakfast or brunch, I usually cook myself something delicious, such as a veggie egg scramble or a spinach, mushroom, & feta wrap with a side of fruit. Last Sunday, I had blueberry waffles with bacon, along with a cup of coffee & a small glass of Simply orange with pineapple juice.

Spiritual Cleansing

The proverb “cleanliness is close to godliness” resonates with me 100%. On Sundays, I like to run my iRobot Roomba, do my laundry, & deep clean my apartment. I hate clutter & mess, so I like to start my week with a clean home. Once my apartment is dirt & germ-free, I spiritually cleanse & raise the loving vibrations within my home with my Camaya Healing sprays.

Next, I will clean & pamper myself. First, I take a shower. I shampoo & condition my hair with OGX coconut curls then apply a deep conditioning hair mask. I wash my body with my cleansing gloves & body wash. I’ll also do a body scrub, if needed. Then, before getting out of the shower, I give my bathtub a good scrub too.

Upon getting out, I pull my tub stop up, then I start drawing a bath. Depending on my mood, I’ll do a lavender bubble bath, a LUSH bath bomb, or a LUSH bubble bar. While my bathtub is filling up, I whiten my teeth with activated charcoal. Then, I’ll wipe down my sink & mirror, because it gets everywhere. I also wash my face with Biore pore unclogging scrub & apply Simple micellar water.

Then, I keep my hair up in a Kitsch towel scrunchie or an after spa hair towel wrap, light a few candles, & find a sound bath from YouTube to listen to while I relax in the bathtub. Before getting in the tub, I also put on either an under-eye mask, a sheet mask, or a mud mask on my face. Once I’m done with my bath after about 20 – 30 minutes later, I drain the tub & rinse out my deep conditioning hair mask.

Curly Hair Care Routine

Next is my curly hair care routine. While my curls are still damp, I use an OGX leave-in conditioner & It’s a 10 Haircare Lite Leave-In. Then, I scrunch curl cream into my hair. I’ll either use a diffuser, or I air dry my hair & slowly let my curls come to life!

My Skincare

Once my curls are all set, I move onto my skin next. I already washed my face in the shower, applied micellar water, & did a mask. To keep my skin glowing & well-moisturized, I always put lotion on my body after showering. Next, I apply eye cream, retinol serum, & moisturizer. I love letting my skin soak in all the products. It’s what gives me my youthful glow!

Planning

Up next is prepping & planning my week using my Happy Planner, colorful felt-tip pens, & stickers. To me, there’s something magical & special about physically writing down your goals & plans for the week. It makes each goal feel like a firm commitment, rather than just a thought at the back of my mind that I might get done. In my planner, I record everything that I’m doing that week & set goals for myself in 3 main categories: Health/Wellness, Career, & Personal

Health/Wellness
  • Workout (4x)
  • Meditate
  • Pray
  • Drink lots of water!
  • Nourish your body
  • Floss, flouride rinse, & charcoal!
Career
  • Project ABC
  • Project XYZ
  • Meeting Prep
  • 1:1 Prep
  • Etc.
Personal
  • Groceries
  • Laundry
  • XO Denise Joyce
    • Film
    • Edit
    • Write
    • Schedule content

Watching Feel-good Movies & Baking

I wrap up my Sunday evening by streaming one of my favorite feel-good movies (Shrek, UP, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Mean Girls, etc.) on Disney+, Hulu, or Netflix & baking. I love enjoying dessert on Sundays. And I feel like I deserve my dessert even more if I take the time to bake the tasty treats myself. lol

I bake banana bread, cupcakes, muffins, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, or I can even prepare a no-bake cheesecake. Since all of my recipes are made with love, it’s a fun & very relaxing way to wrap up my day.

Again, I love the quote “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.” Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week because I spend the day pampering myself & enjoying everything that I love. That’s my secret to having a productive week. Do you have a Self-Care Sunday routine? What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy your Sunday? Please feel free to share in a comment below.

XO Denise

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