I know that most of you applying or getting ready to go to an MBA program feel pretty confident in your self-awareness.  Self-awareness has led you to the schools you applied to and eventually accepted.  It led you to the bachelors you already have and the job you currently do.  Self-awareness lets you know if you are a douche who needs to tone it down or the wallflower that needs to pump it up.

I have always been told I am confidently self-aware of who I am.  I agree I know who I am, but I wasn’t self-aware of whom I am in business.  See, after analyzing my leadership skills, fellow students leadership skills, and plenty of Harvard Business Review articles on leadership skills, I realize I was not being innovative with my leadership I was just being a copy cat I had some incredible bosses, and I had some real doozers, but they were effective in getting things done.  I tended to hangout in the middle.

I confidently knew how to pick my outfit in the morning, but I wasn’t always confident of leading a team of 20 people.  Most of time I would just be a puppet and regurgitate whatever my boss needed to be said or done with the team.  I didn’t feel confident some of my suggestions or separate leadership style would bring me success.  I wasn’t self-aware of how I presented myself or how my presence affected others around me.  I always smiled and was helpful, but I wasn’t a true leader, because I didn’t understand what it meant.

Self-awareness isn’t who you want to be either.  It is who you are today.  Yes, I believe people and personalities are fluid and we all can change and become so much more than we are today, but I want to start with today.  Four months ago, my self-awareness would have been falsified towards who I wish I was, today I know it is definitely who I am. As you can tell, so far, leadership and self-awareness go hand in hand.  One does not exist without the other.  This is looking beyond the title of your position in a company.  You can be a manager with no concept of self-awareness; eventually you will realize your employees do not have 100% confidence in you because you don’t know who you are.  This goes for a CEO, CFO, entrepreneur, customer service rep, and janitor.

How do you become more self-aware: take some personality tests.  Ask 3 friends to describe your strengths and weaknesses and see the common factors they give you.  What are your values?  Make a list of things you believe are good and bad.  I know this comes across as simple but when you are in an ethical dilemma or working with a difficult employee, in order to remain on the side of success you have to know who you are.

Takeaway: Leadership does not exist without self-awareness. A

rticles explaining importance of self-awareness and leadership:

How to Crack the Self Awareness Paradigm HBR

Self-Awareness and the Effective Leader Inc.com

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These are the GMAT books I have purchased through the past couple of years and I probably used about 25% of them. (There are about 5 to 10 books and folders missing from this picture.)  Why do I have so many books?  I think it is because I am always trying to find something that speaks my math language or gives me a better shortcut.  Oh yeah, I also have a slight shopping addiction. 

I have curtailed my GMAT shopping addiction and invested in shoes, but Now I am ready to head back to the GMAT.  Those who have been following me know the GMAT has been a struggle beyond my wildest dreams.  I don’t remember stressing over a test so much.  The SAT/ACT test were a breeze (or I just didn’t place the value my whole high school education on a test) but for some reason the GMAT has become the Mt. Kilimanjaro of tests for me.  The last time I took it I got a decent score, but not an NYU score.  I thought I would take it again a month later, but I just couldn’t pick up the book.  When you see a number you weren’t aiming for it just adds to the failure pile.  Believe me my failure pile has toppled over and I just wanted to work on a success pile.  This website, volunteer work, new job (paycheck) are all successes, but the GMAT????????

Honestly, there hasn’t been a day since my last test that I haven’t thought about the GMAT.  At this point I may not get into NYU but I owe it to myself to go for my best score, and that is all.  I am okay if I end up in an evening program or a truly unknown small school.  On my resume it would still read MBA. 

My next step is to come up with a training (study) schedule for the next 3 months.  Why 3 months, because after 3 months my ADD truly kicks in and I need to move onto other battles.  I am looking for suggestions for studying.  I just want a couple of hours a night and to take a practice test every other week.  Also, if you can come up with your top GMAT study book or tricks of the trade I would appreciate it.  I am not looking for a course right now, although a great tutor would be appreciated (not one who texts in the middle of a session making plans for a Friday night and still wants to get paid.)

Tomorrow I will work on my study schedule for the next three months.

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Ciao Tutti.

I am a GlamourGirl.  (I still dream of the Victor & Rolf jacket on the left.) Best sentence to describe me: An intelligent girl with big dreams achieving her goals one Christian Louboutin step at a time.  I like my heels high, my hair to be an afro-curl (straight some days), my earrings to be big hoops, my arms to be covered with bangles and bracelets.  Now I have decided to expand an MBA fashion blog to cover more of what I am about.  I will let you in on this Glamour Girl journey good and bad.  Cover all the aspects that run through my mind on a daily basis; Fashion, Relationships, Health, and Higher Education.  I even have some help from friends this time in the Relationship section you can follow 4 of them as they navigate through the dating world by agreeing to 30 dates apiece in 1 year.   The great thing about the new site is that if you are only interested in 1 section such as MBA you can subscribe and receive only updates on that subject, or if you want it all you can subscribe to the whole site. I will offer advise while taking some as well.  This is the life of a GlamourGirl.

Email: info@glamourgirlnow.com

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Flipping through Vogue today I saw an ad for a MaxMara black dress that looked great for work and for play. Considering the state of the economy and the state of my budget I cannot afford the $690 price tag on the belted black dress. So I went looking elsewhere. I had to break down what I liked about the looks. The loose tops and the fitted bottom. I was determined to find a similar look for less. 

The result does not look exactly like the pics but were truly inspired by it.  went away from the basic black to a navy monochromatic look.  I also knew I could get more wear out of the clothes if I bought separates.The BR top gave me a loose fitting sleeved top. Paired with the Forever 21 skirt I got the belted look.  With the American Apparel skirt I have a high waisted look that shows off the skinniest part of the waist.  Either way I have a sleek and sexy look for under $100. 

Photos Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, Forever 21, and American Apparel

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Ciao Tutti,

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and please keep the people of Mumbai in your prayers.  Since being laid off I have been busier than ever.  I have a couple of side projects going on and I am changing the format of GlamourGirlNow and you will see those changes coming in the next couple of weeks. (Hope you will enjoy.)  I have decided to dedicate the month of December solely to GMAT and b-school apps.  I find looking for jobs out of desperation always leads to someplace I don’t want to be doing things I could care less about.  I plan to spend 4 hours on the GMAT and 3 hours on apps a day.  Almost a full time job.  It seems like a lot but as I told MBAMonk  “…it has to be done.”  I took a practice test through Kaplan and scored a 530.  Not great but I haven’t truly studied for a while.  Hopefully I can only go up from there.  I will do daily updates of my study progress on my twitter account glamourgirlnow.

Step One: Sentence Corrections Idioms 2 hours

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Guys this is a collection you need to keep in mind when it is time to buy suits for your career.  Victor & Rolf are offering a variety of styles just in this one collection.  Remember plaids, stripes, and colors are your friends.  If you want to be forgotten put on the traditional blue pant suit, but if you want to make a statement when you walk into a meeting don’t be afraid of a rust color, skinny tie, or herringbone design.  For evening the suit jacket could simply be replaced by the leather jacket and this will take you from happy hour to the club.  I know I know these are expensive suits, but look at them as a long term investment or remember what you like about the suits and try to find the same idea in a less costly version.  Happy shopping!

Photos courtesy of men.style.com

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Diane Von Furstenberg shows a great outfit that includes some of the basics every women should have in her wardrobe.  The black pencil skirt, a white or cream blouse, and dark cardigan. By adding a small belt as an accent to he outfit and presenting your own power woman confidence this outfit will impress any client.

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In the wake of the whole stock market dipping I decided to go to my local Fidelity Investments building and see what I can do to protect and/or increase my assets.  When I walk in the front door I am greeted by several women (and surrounded by several old men talking about their diversity portfolios) dressed in the same outfit.  The gray or black trouser, the comfy black loafer and the boxy jacket.  I was bored with the look.  I am interested in working in a more creative dressing environment, but what do you do when you have to wear the suit.  Dun Dun Dun here is GG to help spice up this outfit.  Again, I only offer suggestions that can be worked from both low to high end.

For this look I wanted to keep everything basic.  I am staying away from prints for now because I assume there is a strict  dress code.  I centered the clothing options around the Grey High Waisted Jacket.  I like the embellishment of the pleating on the jacket.  I chose sheath dresses because they are quick and easy.  The blue dress adds a needed color for a brighter day.  The wide leg black pants fit any size and looks classic.  The yellow shirt is also a needed color.  The pearl necklace is another classic look that help offset the color I suggest to wear with the jacket.  The heels can match anything worn with the jacket whether it is a skirt, dress, trousers, or jeans.  For a little fun I suggest the Balenciaga motorcycle purse.  Yes it is expensive but don’t you deserve it!

So, readers if you have any other suggestions or tips from what you do to spice up your suit please send them to me and I will happily share them.  Also if you would like to take pictures of your work outfit please send those (you can cut off your face) and I will be glad to share them.  Send suggestions or photos to SUITS on style.com for my suggestions on what can be worn to work along with my favorites from NYC Fashion Spring 2009.

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Dad: So you had a great time on your vacation right.
Me:  Yeah we had a blast
Dad: You are refreshed and ready to go back to work.  No more complaining about your job and you will enjoy life more.
Me: Oh.  Well none of that has changed so probably not

One thing vacation always does is make you want more for yourself and life.  As I wake up this Tuesday morning I am struggling returning to work.  I realize for sure this is not what I want.  They say you should never dread going to work, but I am constantly dreading it.  I feel refreshed but I don’t feel like returning to my cubicle life with such little meaning besides paying bills.  My horoscope said I need to be grateful to have a job.  I am more grateful to get a check. With an MBA I want to switch careers.  I guess I just realize I need a huge change now.  If you ask me right now what I wish I was doing it would be preparing to see all the shows for New York Fashion Week, but where do  I begin? I have pushed off my GMAT until October because I am not ready for it. Damn vacation!!!!!!

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So I woke up this morning in a panic.  I feel I need to do more in my GMAT studying.  I have broken up the times to study @ lunch and a couple of hours after work.  Yesterday I thought it was a good day in terms of studying.  I learned a lot.  I am not cramming a lot of information in one day.  Truly taking a day or more on a subject because I want to get it.  I actually declared yesterday a good day, but today I am scared I am not doing well at all.   I keep getting simple mistakes wrong.  I am going to take a practice test I think on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Goodness!  It shouldn’t be this hard should it.

OK I feel better.  I think it was just a panic attack.  It is amazing how much a test just puts the pressure of the world over you.  All I want is for things to be great this time around.   I am tired of the doubts and confidence tweaking.  It is too exhausting, and my energy needs to be put to better use, but how do you change it.

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