White Privilege not working for you? Try this: 10 Keys to Becoming Unstoppable

If you're not seeing the benefits of white privilege, don't worry - you've come to the right place.

I'm as white as they come, and yet I didn't get this so-called superpower that everyone's talking about. Because I don't have a superpower, I've had to find other ways to succeed in life. And I want to share those methods with you. As Voltaire said, 'One must cultivate one's own garden” and so we will.  Here are 10 keys to becoming unstoppable:

Appearance Matters 

Most experts agree that 70 to 93 percent of all communication is nonverbal. The way you present yourself definitely matters. It's like that old saying, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." Humans collect an incredible amount of data from the way people present themselves. And it starts from the moment you meet someone. You're constantly making judgments based on appearance: Is this person approachable? Do they look credible? Are they put together or disheveled? We make all of these determinations in a fraction of a second. And unfortunately, first impressions can be difficult to change. That's why it's so important to make sure you're presenting yourself in the best light possible. It doesn't matter if you're going on a job interview, meeting new friends, or trying to impress a date. The way you look and act will have a significant impact on the way people perceive you. So take the time to make sure you're putting your best foot forward. It might just make all the difference in your world.

Organization Can Change Your World

“Organizing is something you do before you do something so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. – A. A. Milne, Author of Winnie the Pooh and other children’s books

Being organized can make you seem so much smarter than you are. Starting each morning by creating a list of tasks in order of importance is a good start. But where do you put this list? I like to think of my task list as my second brain. I keep it in a notebook that I always have with me, so I can add to it whenever something comes up. I also make sure to review my list every night before bed so I know what I need to focus on the next day. Creating a knowledge repository that is accessible to you at home or on the go can be a game changer. For me, this is my computer. I have all of my important files backed up and organized so I can find them easily when I need them. And if I'm ever in a meeting and need to reference something, I can just pull it up on my laptop. Never leave a meeting without a synopsis and a task list with the people assigned to the tasks. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that nothing falls through the cracks. By taking these simple steps, you can seem like the most organized person in the room - even if it's just because you have a good system in place!

Learn to Love Reading

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

--Stephen King

It's hard to make time to sit down and read a book. But there is more than one way to skin a cat. Audiobooks can be a game changer if you embrace them. The ability to listen intently for long periods of time will increase your attention span and even help you become a better listener in business and your personal life. Find topics you are interested in, not necessarily anything that has to do with your job. Your curiosity is a superpower, so use it. The more curious you are about a topic, the easier you will comprehend what the author is covering. Reading or listening to books will help you become a more interesting person, and that matters when building relationships. You can also speed up your learning curve compared to people who aren't spending the extra time to get better. There are so many great audiobooks out there. Just start with one and see where it takes you. Who knows, you might just find yourself enjoying the process after all.

Learning to Write Well Can Make You Powerful

"Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly -- they'll go through anything. You read and you're pierced."

--Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

The ability to write well is not that common. It can be intimidating if this is not your strong suit, but like with anything, the more you do it, the better you become. You can jump-start your writing journey using apps like Grammarly to proofread anything you write, from emails to presentations and even contracts. The better you can express yourself through writing, the more powerful you will become. For example, if you can articulate your thoughts clearly in an email, you are more likely to be able to get your point across in a meeting which could lead to a promotion or a raise. Being a good writer can also help you in your personal life, whether you are sending a thank you note or communicating with your partner. If you are able to express yourself well in writing, it will come more naturally in conversation. The bottom line is that being a good writer gives you an advantage in life so it is worth putting in the effort to improve your skills.

Accounting and Finance are the languages of Business

“Proper accounting is like engineering. You need a margin of safety. Thank God we don’t design bridges and airplanes the way we do accounting.”

—Charlie Munger

I see a lot of people who shy away from accounting because they're not naturally inclined to numbers. I think this happens a lot in the technology world, where engineers just want to do their tasks and show no interest in the budget of the projects or departments they work in. This hurts them when it comes to promotions or when it comes to starting a business. Money is the reason businesses exist, and it will serve you well to understand how and why the business you work for uses its money. If your bosses know you can talk about money and learn how to work within a budget, they'll be more likely to entrust you with more responsibilities. So, if you're not naturally inclined to numbers, don't shy away from accounting - embrace it! It's a valuable skill that will serve you well in your career.

Embrace Public Speaking

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”

-Mark Twain

As someone who's made a career out of standing in front of large groups of people and talking, I can tell you that the single best way to become more comfortable speaking in public is to do it as often as possible. It sounds counterintuitive, but the more you put yourself in front of an audience, the less nervous you'll be. Writing clearly and concisely will also help you immensely when it comes time to deliver a speech or presentation. If you can organize your thoughts on paper, it'll be much easier to do so when you're standing in front of a group of people. And don't be afraid to fail. The more times you bomb, the more likely you are to nail it next time. Trust me on this one.

Lean Into Physical Fitness

"Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude, and your mood." - Unknown

The better you take care of your body, the better your quality of life will be in the long run. The biggest thing I see people neglect is their sleep. I know you expected me to talk about working out but sleep is the foundation of your health. Getting 8 hours of sleep on a consistent basis will set you on the course to a healthier life. The body has a big impact on how your brain functions if you struggle with brain fog this is probably why. When you don’t get enough sleep, it negatively impacts your immune system, hormonal balance, and ability to deal with stress. You also become more susceptible to weight gain, high blood pressure, and heart disease. All of these things can be avoided by simply getting a good night’s sleep. So if you want to live a long and healthy life, make sure you get plenty of rest!

Being a Good Listener Will Set You Appart From Your Peers

“An appreciative listener is always stimulating.”― Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Most people are just waiting for their turn to talk. Don’t be that person. Listen when others are distracted by their own thoughts. You will know the people around you better. You will be able to gain greater insight into what your boss sees as important. You will be a better friend, parent, and partner as well. I use this to my advantage when it comes to gift-giving for my wife. She tells me all the time that I’m the best gift-giver she’s ever met. So give yourself the gift of listening, and you will shine like the star you truly are.

Speed Up Your Timeline By Finding A Mentor

"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you." — Bob Proctor

At some point, we've all made a mistake. And while it's important to learn from our own blunders, it's even more beneficial to learn from the mistakes of others. By seeking out a mentor, we can gain invaluable insights into the pitfalls that await us and take steps to avoid them. Or, we may discover hidden talents and abilities that we never knew we possessed. There are countless reasons to ask someone to be our mentor—but two of the most important are that doing so requires us to humble ourselves and recognize that the person we're asking knows more than we do, and that mentorship is all about learning and getting better. If we're lucky enough to find the right mentor, they can accelerate our growth by years. So why not take the leap and ask someone to be your mentor today? You may just be surprised at what you can achieve.

Set Your Priorities And Let the Rest Go

“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” – Albert Einstein

You only have so much time in the day, and how you spend your time matters. Understanding the ranking of your priorities is a big deal. On a high level, your family, job, and social life have their place, but when making decisions about which one to spend time on, set a priority list and use that in every discussion. If your family is number one on your list, then make sure that you're spending quality time with them every day. If your job is number two, then make sure you're putting in the effort to advance your career. And if your social life is number three, then make sure you're maintaining healthy relationships with your friends. By setting priorities and sticking to them, you'll be able to make the most of every minute of every day.

White Privilege is racial discrimination by definition, and it distracts from the real issue, personal responsibility. The world needs competent people. The list above will help you become more competent regardless of skin color. Thank you for reading!