These are the five reasons why you should ditch the fashion trend and step outside the “clone fashion” industry. It’s time to be unique and even actively take part in designing your own fashion. With all these new technologies, this is starting to become a reality. 1. Individualize. Choosing a unique dress allows you to express your personality fully. There are not a lot of places where you can change what fashion artists design but this is a great startup you may want to check out. 2. Avoid the embarrassment. Never again be upset when going out and seeing your dress on another woman. Stop buying mass-produced clothes and eliminate the risk or being “cloned.” Having your own style gets rid of all those awkward silences. 3. Create your own style. It is tough to go to endless shops just to find the same fashion line that you want. Always finding something you would slightly change but having no choice in the matter. Now you can do that online. Take a base dress, tweak it here and there and make it perfect. You can check it out here. 4. Get your significant other’s attention. That tingly feeling when your loved one is amazed by you. Choosing the right clothes is essential in making their hair stand up. Don’t miss the opportunity to add your style to the clothes you buy and mix it right. 5. Expand your creativity. Making a small effort every day to create a harmonious image for yourself, will rewire your brain. You will be more inclined to find beauty all around you, and you will be more creative. In time you will be more refined and elegant, making people wonder how do you do it. “It all starts with one step, becoming a designer for yourself.” The world has changed. All around us we see gadgets that didn’t exist five years ago, these are fantastic advances, but we continue to dress like 200 years ago, mass-produced factory fashion has not changed. Millions of copies for every item, this is embarrassing. It is time to respect us more and change the way we dress. Cloths are, in the end, part of us. Support unique fashion, where you have the power. Jon Barack is the founder of SecretBrand. It’s all about fashion, art, technology, software, branding, and e-commerce. He holds a master’s degree in economics and developed niche markets for the last 25 years.
Is Something Calling You? the courage to do something I had never done before.
When I turned 40, I plucked up the courage to do something I had never done before. I auditioned for a play. I had never taken an acting class or auditioned for anything (other than cheerleading in High School that was a fail). Yet, deep down, I knew that if I didn’t at least give it a try, I would always feel like I had let myself down. Fast forward to February 2017 when I participated in the Short & Sweet 10 minute play festival in Dubai. As I was waiting in the “the wings” for my stage entrance, I felt sick to my stomach and whispered to my colleagues… “why do we do this?” At that moment, nerves got the best of me and I forgot why I participate in amateur dramatics. What if I forget my lines? Would if something goes wrong? Would if the audience doesn’t like it? I think you get the idea. Yet, immediately after the performance, I knew I would do it again. There are many reasons I love this hobby; among them are things I have learned about myself, and life, in the process. First and foremost, acting has taught me the importance of honoring an inner calling. Many of us have inner callings that, if not explored, can create regret later in life. Yet, often times, this wisdom is suppressed; we let fear(or other excuses)get in the way.We suffer when we shrink into our safe existence, patterns and routines. Secondly, it is important to embrace our doubts and uncertainty. In spite of the anxietyacting causes me, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It is the tension of stepping from the place of certainty, “ the wings”, into the uncertainty of the spotlightthat creates a sense of aliveness in me. If I always knew what the outcome would be, the process wouldn’t provide the same kind of satisfaction. And, we don’t have to pile pressure on ourselvesto set the world on fire or climb the highest mountain. I don’t need to be a movie star to fully enjoy acting. As a coach, I have supported others in honoring themselves in big ways and small. Whether redefining a career direction, starting a new business, joining a local writing group or skiing on a dry slope, it is never too late and there are many ways to honor a calling and enjoy the aliveness that new experiences and living outside our comfort zone can bring. I invite you to pause for a moment: Are you “waiting in the wings” in any area of your life? Do you feel you have a calling that has not been heeded? What is holding you back? If you decide it’s time to step up for yourself, here are a few practical things I have learned, and shared with clients, that I hope will help you on your way: Listen to “the call.” Brainstorm on ways to heed “the call” (small, medium, or large). Establish support to keep you on track (coaching, a friend, a group, whatever is best for you). Embrace the sensation of uncertainty. Acknowledge that the more you push past fear, the easier it becomes. And trust that, regardless of the outcome, you will move from existence to aliveness; towards a life without regrets. As they say in the world of theatre, “break a leg.” By: Lisa Harter …Certified Life & Happiness Coach. She works with clients globally to create a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment and can be contacted at: lisahartercoaching.com.
Joyce Abdallah – Founder @reframe.joyce
Joyce Abdallah is a certified Behavioral Life Coach, an Executive Coach and a certified NLP Practitioner. Joyce has a master’s degree in Cinematography and has an experience in the film industry for more than 14 years. She has started teaching cinema and television courses in many universities in Lebanon since 2006, where she experienced magic moments of success and pride with her students. Throughout her teaching experience, she has discovered her talent of motivating people and the passion to help them reframe their mentality and constant language. Her love for cinema and books was incomplete; she used to ask herself “what’s next?” … Till the day she was introduced to life coaching and NLP. Her obsession in frames switched to the reframe. Joyce believes that life is like a picture: it’s a matter of focusing, capturing, and framing. What really matters is not what happens but the stories we keep telling ourselves. “Most of our stress and suffering come not from events, but from our thoughts. Reframe from negative thoughts, and stress subsides. – Martha Beck”
Mouna Elias El Hrawi
Mouna Elias El Hrawi was born in 1941 in Baalbeck to a Palestinian father and a Lebanese mother. As the eldest of three girls, she spent her early years in Bethlehem until her father’s passing when she was nine. Raised by her paternal aunt in Amman until completing high school, she returned to Baalbeck at 17, joining her mother and sisters. In 1961, she married Elias El Hraoui, later becoming Lebanon’s First Lady in 1989. Notable Positions and Involvements: First Lady of Lebanon from 1989 to 1998. Established and heads the Chronic Care Center since 1993. Founder and President of the Lebanese Heritage Foundation starting in 1996. Board member at the Thalassemia International Federation from 1994. Contributed to the Suzane Mubarak Women’s International Movement for Peace from 2003 to 2006. Founded and led the Lebanese Permanent Committee for Coordination from 1991 to 1998. Chaired the National Committee for the Preparation of the 4th World Conference on Women in 1995. Presided over the Lebanese National Commission for Lebanese Women from 1995 to 1998. Acted as Honorary President of the Lebanese Red Cross Association between 1990 and 1998. Recognitions and Accolades: Received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Schiller International University in 1998. Awarded the International Award for the Development of Permanent Child Health and Welfare Services in New York, 1996. HOPE Worldwide Award recipient for aiding the underprivileged in Lebanon in 1995. Recognized with the International Youth Foundation Patron Award in 1994 for supporting the UN Program on the International Year of Family. Key Contributions: Led projects like the restoration of Nahr el-Kalb’s steles by the Lebanese Heritage Foundation. Also, initiated the creation of the “Museum of Rural Life – Terbol” and the “Ecomusée – Râs Baalbek” between 1996 and 2010. Rehabilitated the Beirut National Museum and launched its Museum Gift Shop from 1996 to 1999 for self-sustenance. Organized Classical Music Concerts at the Beirut Museum in 1996-1997. Initiated a Télethon on May 29, 1993, aiding children with chronic illnesses, which led to the founding of the Chronic Care Center. Orchestrated the Anjar Festivals in 1974
Job Hunting Etiquette Tips
For lots of people, “job hunting” is considered as one of their New Year resolutions. Regardless of the reason behind the need for a new job/employer, neither a satisfying result, i.e. finding a new job, nor the time frame needed to realize it are guaranteed. Throughout the years, searching for a new job has been long process that is becoming more and more complicated. With the alarming unemployment rate, continuous economic and political turmoil, endless shutdown of companies, obvious reluctance of companies to hire, searching for a job is indeed a challenging process. Since we defined the “Job Hunting” as process, it is mandatory to consider some dos and don’ts throughout our journey as to avoid the pitfalls and insure we are on the right track. Below are some “Job-Hunting Etiquette Tips” every job seeker needs to know and apply: Build a professional LinkedIn account: it is the era of social media. Having a well-structured LinkedIn profile (where your contact details are updated and easily available) is a must for every job seeker. Recruiters and Talent Acquisition managers are spending more time on such professional social medium to headhunt the most qualified candidates. Let your LinkedIn account promote your profile and encourage the recruiter to get in touch with you through a text message or phone call. Prompt reply to any message you receive on LinkedIn is highly appreciated. Remember: lots of people formulate New Year resolution and work hard to find a new job. Attend business events: knowing more people will help in enlarging your network and increasing the probability of getting hired. Attending networking events, business conferences, seminars, job fairs, etc. is essential for any job seeker in creating contacts and opening doors to potential hiring. Doing a follow up with the key people met at any business event is by far an effective tactic any job seeker is expected to do. Be well prepared: getting a decent offer straight after the very first interview a job seeker does is kind of a myth. Job Hunting is a long process accompanied with few successes and lots of bitterness. Be prepared to attend interviews with managers who did not prepare for the interview! Be prepared to attend several interviews at the same company and to feel that you are close enough to get hired; and then be prepared to not hearing back from anyone, not even to inform you that you were not shortlisted. Yes, be prepared and do not give up. Apply for a job that suits you: Looking for a job means looking and looking and then looking some more, here and there and everywhere: Company Websites, Online Recruitment Databases, Social Media Platforms, etc. However, it’s not a “must” that the job seeker applies for every single job opportunity they find! An example will clarify this idea: if a job seeker, with a BA degree and 5 years of experience, applies for 5 vacancies a day, all requiring a Master degree and a minimum of 10 years of experience, they will definitely not get any feedback! The process in this case was “sending CVs” and not “Job Hunting”. Golden rule for any job seeker: Search for “job vacancies” and apply for only the vacancy that matches your profile. Period. I admit that talking about “Job Hunting Etiquette Tips” is way easier than applying it. Job seekers get frustrated after so much CV sharing, interviews, promises, feedback waiting, etc. However, violating any of the above tips will not lead to a rewarding outcome either. Having said so, Job Seekers are required first, to be patient and resilient and second, to be aware of what might harm their reputation and prohibit them from getting hired. Finding a new job is like undertaking a project; the above Etiquette tips are the guidelines to follow to successfully achieve it. Good luck! by: Georgina Ibrahim
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