Maven Communications Pte Ltd

12/03/2023

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞: "𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡."

If you think you are not as competent as others perceive you to be, you suffer from imposter syndrome.

Let's understand more about imposter syndrome today. Let's discover what imposter syndrome is, its symptoms, how it feels and looks like when you feel it, why you feel it, and what the cause is.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞?

The imposter syndrome is your inner critic telling you that you are not good enough and someday you will be exposed as a fraud.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬?

The symptoms associated with imposter syndrome are:
• anxiety
• perfectionism
• self-doubt
• fear of failure

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞?

Self-doubt about your worth. Lack of confidence in your value. The fear of being found out that you are over-valued. You feel you are not as great as other people think you are. You feel you don't really belong among the great.

You may feel that you are not worth what you are charging. You feel that you did not deserve your success. You feel that you are unqualified for a given task. You are worried that you're not living up to other people's expectations, especially your boss.

You are afraid that one day, people will discover that you are full of s**t, a phony, a fraud. I use the word 'feel' because this deep-seated fear may be a phobia. It is not based on reality. It is a limiting belief.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞?

When people praise you, you feel embarrassed and attribute it to luck or the contribution of your teammates.

When you set a fee for your service, you'll set it to the lowest. This is because you're afraid that a higher price will offend people or that nobody will buy.

Your feeling of inadequacy may cause you to indulge in negative self-talk. You could be asking yourself these questions: “Who am I to be doing this?”, “What if they find out that I am a fraud?”, “What if I am not good enough?”

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐭?

You'll start to question yourself when you are weak and vulnerable. For example, when you are not doing well in your sales, you will feel that you have lost your power. When there are problems in other areas of your life that you cannot solve, it also makes you question yourself.

You feel it when you are launching a new project and are afraid that you are not up to the task. You feel it when you get your promotion, and you feel you don't deserve success.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐭?

Some people work very hard with little results for years. Then, one day they reach the tipping point, and success comes easy for them. They are not used to basking in the glory of overnight success. They feel guilty enjoying the fruits of their labor because it now seems effortless.

If you are a perfectionist, you may be procrastinating because your work is still not perfect. This leads to anxiety and exhaustion.

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝?

As I research more, I realize that the imposter syndrome affects almost everyone, regardless of how little or much they have achieved. No one is immune to it.

If they are beginners, it is because of a lack of confidence in their own value.

If they are veterans, they feel overvalued and are worried about being "found out".

You cannot eliminate this problem completely. It will appear from time to time like a pimple, but you can manage it.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞?

The syndrome comes from a faulty belief that you are inadequate and unworthy, incompetent in your work and a failure.

If you are growing up in a home with alcoholic parents, domestic violence, or facing constant criticism, you will get the imposter syndrome.

Suppose you are working in an environment where you face constant criticism. For example, as an artist, others often judge your work, and you too will be vulnerable to imposter syndrome.

𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞

“My first job was like this, straight out of school. Belittled and shouted at every day. It’s unfortunately marred me psychologically and professionally ever since. I suffer from really awful imposter syndrome.” ~ Nigel Munn

I hope by now you have a better understanding of imposter syndrome.

10/03/2023

Remember this...

A budgeted lifestyle does not mean a bad or boring one!

How to save money fast? Money-saving tips both in general and for specific costs. Get your spending in order and get the most out of your paycheck.

08/03/2023

How to be Smart About Money

You've heard about book smart and street smart. Let's talk about money smart.

When you are money smart, you can achieve financial freedom and live without worries about the lack of money. Here are seven tips to make you smarter about money.

(1) Think Long Term
This vendor has been renting the coffee shop for his F&B business for almost 30 years. If they had bought the space first, the money would have gone to the purchase instead of paying rent. Now the shop is worth more than a dozen million dollars. But this vendor still has to pay a higher rental fee, which is eating into their profits.

Today's friends can become business partners or associates in a few years. A good friendship and trust take years to nurture. While your friends may not seem of business value to you now, you never know what's in store in the future. Be nice to people, and they will remember you fondly. Do not talk to people only because you want to close a transaction. Treat people like a friend, not as a prospect.

A crisis comes and goes in a cycle. The storm will run out of water. During a recession, assets are cheaper. And those who have cash will grab these assets at a discounted price. So if you are money smart, you will be saving cash for a rainy day and grab some good sales.

So prepare yourself for the next cycle.

In the short term, your investment may have gone south. But your investment will eventually recover in the long term if you hold on to it long enough. Think like Warren Buffet. Be patient and think long-term.

(2) Focus on Income Generation
It is slower to achieve financial freedom through saving. How much can you save?

It is more achievable to be richer by increasing your income. So how do you increase your income?

Answers: Have multiple streams of income. Launch a new business. Change your job. Take on a higher position and take on more responsibilities. Upgrade your skill. Master a high-income skill such as copywriting, lead generation, and digital marketing.

Don't look at a crisis as a doomsday. A crisis is an opportunity for creative entrepreneurs and problem solvers. When you can solve people's problems, you are well rewarded. So put on your problem-solving hat. The ability to solve problems is a profitable skill. So embrace problems like you embrace your brother.

(3) Invest
The faster way to grow your money is to invest your income into assets that generate a higher return, such as real estate. Your salary is not going to increase faster than the inflation rate. Your job is going to take you only so far. You cannot take a car to the moon no matter how fast your car is. You need a rocket ship. Read Robert Kiyosaki's book, 'Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant.

(4) Live Within Your Means
Don't try to impress people who don't pay your bill. Don't spend on dumb stuff. Learn how to spend less and make more. People go into debt by trying to look richer than they are.

You don't need to pretend to be rich. Live humbly. Own less. You will live a wealthy life.

Some people work hard and earn more, but they also spend more. As a result, they hardly had quality time with their loved ones. If they don't control their spending, working harder and earning more is pointless. You want a better quality of life.

If you know how to manage your expenses, you can earn enough and have a good quality of life without adding more work or sacrificing everything for money. If you are in debt, forget about the latte at Starbucks.

(5) Leverage
Trading time for money at work seldom makes you a millionaire unless you are a CEO.

How much can you make working 12 hours a day? How can you increase your output for the same amount of time and effort? You have to find a way to leverage by using other people's time and talent. Learn about leverage.

(6) Travel
Move abroad if you are living in an expensive country. Live in a country where the cost of living is lower while you earn from first-world countries. Be a digital nomad.

Living in a new environment stimulates your creativity and helps you see things from a different perspective. It takes you out of your tunnel vision and boredom of being in the same place.

(7) Be Open to Possibilities
Have an open mind, a sense of curiosity, and a hunger to learn new things. Keep abreast of technology in this digital world. You can learn something from everyone because they have their talents and knowledge they don't have. Be exposed to more positive people. Be open to what is possible for you.

05/03/2023

How do you know if you've "hit the wall"? What does it mean and how do we address it?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/biopsychosocial-solution/202206/how-do-you-know-when-you-ve-hit-the-wall

03/03/2023

Are you still living your dream?

A recent survey uncovered something interesting - burnout, stress, and loneliness have been rife since Covid-19 and have mostly been affecting top management in various industries across the globe.

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/asia/top-stories/are-singapore-australia-hong-kong-expats-still-living-the-dream-burnout-stress-and-loneliness-rife-since-covid-19-survey-finds/ar-AAYKTjd?ocid=BingNewsSearch

01/03/2023

When it comes to handling money, you may encounter a slew of challenges on a regular basis.

From unexpected expenses, and managing bills, to budgeting our salaries to keep up with our needs and responsibilities.

Stress over money may manifest itself in various ways and it can create more problems for you as time passes. It may affect both your physical and mental wellness – from anxiety and unhealthy mindsets, to stress-induced ails.

If you are more anxious than usual about your finances, take a moment to understand the whys of your financial stresses. From there, you can find ways to navigate through them successfully.

Here are some things you can do.

💰Look back on your financial upbringing – Our current financial habits and mindsets are an outcome of how we were raised to think about money. If you're not sure what's causing your financial concern, it's worth going back in time to see how your childhood and family environment showed you how you manage your money today.

Were you raised not having much and needed to save every penny? Did you have more than enough and spent lavishly every second you could?

Life can change drastically over time. What was once your financial state then could be very different from your situation now.

💰Consider the worst-case scenario – Change your perspective for a while and think of the worst that can happen.

While your financial status is unlikely to be a life or death situation, financial stress might manifest in sickness and debilitation.

Taking a serious look at the worst-case situation has the unexpected effect of reducing anxiety. It forces you to objectively look at the path that you are on and see the possible worst outcomes, instead of “sweeping things under the rug” and becoming filled with unfounded fears and stresses.

Confronting your worries head on actually helps you gain clarity. Once you do this, you may realize that your financial problems are actually repairable in time with the right decisions and strategies.

💰Search for support – If confiding in friends and family doesn’t seem to be enough, you can always seek support professionally.

To cope with your anxiety and make some positive progress with your financial difficulties, working with a mental health or financial specialist might help.

Doing this will help you pinpoint the areas that need work and plan out the solutions that will help you in this struggle.

In a culture and society that’s built around money, Maven Communications can help you regain your footing and navigate your finances better than before.

Simply restoring your financial stability and wellbeing may be quite healing. You can regain your life and move forward without financial blockages holding you back.

In turn, you will be able to focus on prioritizing your health and well-being, enhancing relationships that matter to you, and live your best life.

26/02/2023

If you are suffering from financial stress, keep these 5 things in mind:

https://hbr.org/2021/06/5-easy-ways-to-take-control-of-your-personal-finances

24/02/2023

"Money makes the world go round," as the saying goes.

The explanation is simple: our entire culture is built on money. Any money-related issue or misconception restricts a person's life until it is confronted and corrected.

Financial burden comes from a wide spectrum of problems. Some could be struggling with too much debt, lack of income, lack of budget or control, lack of savings, or unexpected expenses.

Not to mention that we all have different methods of dealing with money which shape our financial habits over time.

If you find yourself in any of the situations above where you feel your financial situation is causing you a great deal of stress, here are 3 ways to deal:

💸 Budget and track money – While this may not appear to be an answer to your financial problems, it may significantly reduce the amount of stress you experience on a daily basis.

Maintaining your financial health requires frequent budget checks. Set aside some time to schedule, organize, and keep track of all of the money that comes in and out of your bank account to get control over your finances.

As tedious as this process may seem, sacrificing the time for it can help you take back control over your finances.

💸 Be purposeful in considering other sources of income – If you're worried about money, the funds that you already get may not be enough for the budget you’ve identified and set. However, figuring out how to improve your financial assets without causing yourself major stress can be a challenge.

Take this time to really think about the next steps you would like to make that will put you on the path to a better financial footing. Do you need to invest in yourself for further studies or can you seek work that can support your financial responsibilities now and goals in the future?

💸 Have something set aside for a rainy day – An emergency fund is savings intended to meet unforeseen costs and financial crises.

Starting an emergency fund might be difficult at the beginning, especially if you are already struggling to make ends meet. One very good way to start is to aim to set aside a tiny amount each month and consider this as an expense. It should not be something you would see as something “optional” but considered a financial responsibility that you have to do.

No matter how big or small you put in, it should get you started to slowly build your emergency fund.

At Maven Communications, you'll get a better grasp of how money is intertwined with many facets of our life, and how it plays a larger role in your goal of becoming your best self.

You will be able to identify why certain patterns recur, face and accept the reality of your financial situation, identify obstacles that stand in your way, and find solutions that will work.

Money has the capability of making or breaking us. Gain back control and control your finances for a healthier way of life.

Remember, taking steps toward financial stability is healing – relationships, health, well-being, and lifestyle may all benefit from financial success.

22/02/2023

Do you know...

that according to studies, your blood can literally show you if you are sad.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/how-your-blood-can-show-if-you-are-lonely/ar-AAY5GBS?ocid=BingNewsSearch

19/02/2023

Depression is as much as a health condition just like serious diseases and injuries you may have experienced in your lifetime. It can affect your whole self and become debilitating and dangerous if you do not seek help.

The challenge with mental health is that it may not as noticeable and observable as physical ailments. Some individuals may be a bit more expressive towards these struggles while others tend to keep these battles to themselves. The key is really being able to be a support to your friend or loved one, if and when they do reach out.

Here are 4 ways you can support a loved one going through depression:

🩹Lend an ear – People who go through depression may not need advice at the moment, but someone to listen to them.

By listening and lending an ear, you’ll be able to help a loved one feel acknowledged, and doing so could help them process what they are going through a lot better.

It is also by listening and being present that you can gauge how they need support and which aspects of their life they would need to work on.

🩹Be mindful of the advice that you give – Advice can be a double-edged sword for anyone going through mental health struggles. Again, some people really don’t need advice at the moment,

Are they at that stage of dealing with depression where they would need your advice? Or are they still ruminating and processing? It’s best to know where they are in their healing journey.

Unless they ask for it, unsolicited advice may not be the right way to go, even if you mean well. This might lead to your loved one feeling misunderstood.

🩹Be sincere and affirming – Simply being honest and being affirming with your words can help your loved one feel safer and more comfortable.

How do you do that? Besides listening, ask open-ended questions like “how are you feeling?” or “how was your day?”.

Small talk doesn’t push nor add pressure on them to solve their problems NOW. It is light and non-confrontational, but it also makes them feel as though they matter and that they are still part of a bigger community that cares.

Help them feel affirmed by acknowledging their efforts, reminding them to take it easy, or letting them know that they’re doing a good job.

Phrases like this make them feel validated and that maybe, they should stop being so hard on themselves.

🩹Suggest professional help – Being a good friend, sibling, or parent by being there may have saved your loved one from a lot more pain, downward spirals, and tragedies.

However, if the depression has gone worse or seemingly hasn’t gotten better, you can always help them find professional support. There’s only so much you can do and you shouldn’t watch over your well-being as well.

At Maven Communications, mind clearing can assist those struggling in your life by identifying the roots of their depression, encouraging them to take greater responsibility for their lives and well-being, and allowing them to have a more optimistic attitude toward life.

Depression can strike at any age or at major life transitions. It can be brought on by feelings of being stuck, trapped, or grief. Unspoken messages, moments of shock and perplexity, unfelt pure emotions, and suppressed personal force are all masks for depression.

Whatever the cause may be, we can help the ones you love in your life regain their footing and begin their journey to healing.

17/02/2023

Kindness is contagious. Caring about and helping others should be a basic human instinct. Give yourself time to think and then ask yourself how you measure up.

What would you add to this list?

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-ways-to-be-a-better-hu_b_5760778

15/02/2023

Why you're not you...when you're hungry.
Read on to discover a simple but important takeaway (pun intended!).
https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/angry-at-work-have-a-snack/233090