Pirate Swagger.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

The topic of swagger came up a few weeks ago with one of my clients, and the answer to what people think swagger is was very interesting. Well, I’m here to help you get your swagger back, or increase it – if in fact you lost it.

We all can sense when someone has swagger but how do you define it, and how do you get it?

Swagger is the reason you get that promotion as opposed to the next person, it’s how you notice people when they walk into a room, it’s how you choose a romantic partner (or don’t).  Swagger is what makes heads turn, hearts race and suitors fall all over themselves to get a chance to talk to you.  Swagger makes men want you and women want to be you.  It is that extra oomph and the icing on top of a delicious cake.  It’s what can take you to the next stratosphere in your business and in your life.

Swagger, also referred to as mojo.

Do you have swagger? 

Swagger is the way in which you present yourself to the world. It’s the way you walk, the way you talk, how you dress and how you handle a situation.

According to the urban dictionary “Swagger is to move with confidence, sophistication, and to be cool.  Swagger is to conduct yourself in a way that would automatically earn respect.”

Alright, so swagger is something we all covet, in ourselves and in others. Maybe you put up a front and think swagger is a bad thing, too arrogant or too aggressive.  The thing is, having swagger induces jealousy too, so maybe you are jealous of those who have swagger if you are feeling low on the swag-o-meter.

Well, I’m here to help get your swagger back or up the level of which you swag.

Let’s break down the anatomy of swagger, shall we.

I think swagger is a state of being.  It is temporary and NOT a constant.  Some days you have swagger, some days you don’t.  Some days you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed.  However, some days you have swagger when you are confident in what you are doing and when you feel you are superior in your skill level or competence.

In order to have swagger, one must go above the bare minimum in any given situation.

Example: How you rate on the Swag-o-meter.

Swagger meter 0:

You got dressed this morning. Good for you! We need clothes to not get arrested in public.  You got where you are going late or on time.  You did the bare minimum.

Swagger meter 4:

You got dressed, you picked out an outfit you feel great in, ate breakfast and grabbed some reading material for your commute.  You feel good and started your day off well.

Swagger meter 8:

You picked out your outfit the day before, did your hair and makeup on point, set the coffee machine, had 15 minutes to actually enjoy your breakfast and read a blog. You left your home early and got to your appointment before the other party arrived. Feeling good, looking good and feeling confident you rate high on the swagger meter.  Other people may notice your great mood and self-confidence. Great job!

Swagger meter 10:

You did all of the above in meter 8, plus you worked out, found the perfect shoes, accessories and purse to match your outfit.  You switched contents in your purse to the matching purse the night before. You have your commute down to a science, you are stocked for your business meetings with all of your research, techy devices, and gorgeous power point or even unique and original 3d visual mood board to show your client. You had some spare time the night before to call your best friend and take a bath, your calendar is booked for the next 3 months and you feel like you have a certain plan for the future but are flexible if changes occur.  You feel like you have an over all life balance and have EXTRA time to relax and do things just for you.  You have a strong sense of connection, of spirituality or religion and a good support system of family and friends. Here are the elements of swagger. You score a 10, you’ve got swag. Congratulations! (But I don’t have to tell you that because you feel great about where you’re at and KNOW that you are going places.)

You are the man/woman who turns heads. Your confidence shines like a gorgeous glow of golden light around your hot-self, you move with grace, never rushing to your next stop. You are smiling from the inside out because you know no matter what happens, if coffee spills all over your shirt, if your toe gets stepped on by the strap-hanger in front of you or even if you don’t get the new account, it’s ok because you feel great and know that it is all good. You will not feel defeated; you will feel empowered to try another way.

How do you do this?

Its not perfection its just taking CARE in what you do! It’s 100% achievable.

But it is not 100% consistent. By all means I do not have swagger every day. Like I said, some days I feel it, others I do not. Some days I loose my swagger for a while if I’m sick, feel out of balance or if I’m dealing with a big issue.  It’s all about how well I took care of my needs and myself that day or instance.

Getting more in tune with exactly what you need to feel happy is the key to swag.  Listening to YOUR opinion before asking others what they think will make you feel happy with your choices.

It may sound difficult (and some days it’s damn near impossible) but it is attainable.  It’s all about LOVING yourself enough to take good care of your needs, knowing that what I call the “Water fountain effect” is in full force.   (see #7 in link.)

HEARING your intuition:

If there is an issue in which you don’t know what to do, flip a coin.

Yes, flip a coin. Heads you do it, tails you don’t.  Now here’s the twist: You will KNOW immediately how you feel about this decision if the coin flips on the decision you DID NOT want to go through with.

Picture this – Heads you take the job / cut your hair / cancel plans /etc., tails you don’t.  The coin lands on heads.  You immediately think AH!!! NO!!!!! OMG I don’t want to do that!!!!

Ok well there’s your answer. Don’t do what the coin says, listen to your reaction. This is a fail proof way to hear your instincts and do what makes YOU happy!

Now that we’ve broken down swagger, I hope you realize you can have it too, or get it back if you had it years ago. Swagger is being prepared for your day, for your needs, respecting your time and the time of others. It is being responsible for your side of the street, knowing full well no one else  will do it for you. It is going that extra mile beyond the bare minimum and MEETING the day instead of letting the day push you around.

So go ahead, get your swag on and get ready for an awesome day!

Let me know how you got your swag up in the past or if this was helpful in the comments below or by replying to this email!

Hope that inspires you, and hope your Halloween is filled with swag!

Xoxo

Emily