
Recently my career life has taken off in unexpected ways. I got a raise at work. My IT consultancy has a steady, dedicated customer, and plans for increasing the client base are going well. My blog site, WorkLoveLife.com, has skyrocketed within the past two weeks, with traffic increasing exponentially.
I was riding a huge wave, and suddenly I exuded confidence in a way I never have. My newfound success gave me a sense of poise that spilled over into other areas of my life. Why not upgrade to a nicer apartment on the beach when my lease is up in a month? I’ve earned it. Why not gun forward on that project at work? I know it will work.
Here’s a not-so-secretive secret about confidence. Not only does it dramatically increase your odds of getting what you want, but it does wonders for your sex life. Self-confidence is sexy. Someone who knows what she or he wants and goes after it is, well, hot. There are no two ways about it.
I read a blog recently about why you actually want to date a player (hat tip: HoneyAndLance). A lot of it has to do with self-confidence. I have to admit by the end of the post I realized that the guy I’ve been seeing is sort of a player. And I like it. I love that he’s confident, self-assured and comfortable in social situations.
I didn’t make the correlation between career and sexual confidence until recently. Given the number of deaths and illnesses in my life recently, let’s just say I haven’t exactly been feeling it. Something snapped on Saturday though. After looking at a fabulous 1-bedroom condo on the beach and deciding to take it, I was riding high. I went shopping and after realizing that all the running had paid off in the loss of both a jean size and a shirt size, I asked myself why I shouldn’t go all out on the weekly Saturday night dance-a-thon. Some cherry-red lipgloss and a new pair of jeans later, I knew I was looking good. More than that, I was feeling good. I was rocking it.
One problem. The guy I was seeing said earlier that day he wasn’t game for going out. Exuding a confidence he was unaccustomed to seeing in me, I messaged him: “You should reconsider. I’m looking pretty damn good tonight.” Some more flirty text messaging ensued (totally out-of-character for me), and before long I had him: “We’re on our way.”
Don’t feel too bad for him. He knew what I was up to from text message #1. That didn’t matter – what got him was the surprising new attitude I wore. It was clear that I knew what I wanted that night and that I went after it. It was a turn on, not just for him, but for me too. I wasn’t nervous, anxious, distracted, or busy trying to decipher whether or not he was thinking the same thing I was. I had my eyes on the prize.
The interesting thing is that I always thought that this wasn’t part of my make-up. That in order to be one of those sexy, confident women, I would have to act, play a part. The truth is nothing has come more naturally.
A warning here. It goes without saying that over-confidence is decidedly unsexy. Take it too far and you’ll come off arrogant, stuck-up, better-than or worst of all, not hot.
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I can see the correlation, but on the other side, what about the “work is going so well, I don’t want to be distracted” mentality? As my life can attest to, sometimes I get so engrossed in something going well that I forget about her….needs completely.
Holly, this post cracks me up if only because I recognize myself so much. When Hercules and I go out, it’s like an unwritten rule that we won’t talk about negative things. Challenges, maybe, but mostly we just tell each other how great things are going. Yeah, definitely an aphrodisiac… is that too much information?
Holly,
Great blog post.
It’s very simple and I’ve realized it myself in the past few years.
Making your own money and being successful (whatever your definition of success is) is by far the ultimate aphrodisiac.
Enjoy it.
P.S. People wonder why politicians do what they do? Imagine how they must feel…
Holly, this post is really funny and cute. You’re obviously right, but I really just wanted to comment because I thought it was a cute post.
Nice post! I’m surprised what you said about just making the connection though because usually that confidence naturally exudes when trying and landing new business. I guess maybe it’s how much you decide to release.
@ norcross: I’ve always wondered if this was a guy mentality. I’ve dated guys who are worried about getting distracted, yet who manage to find time for a run. Hey, they’re both good workouts.
@ rebecca: I like that rule! Maybe I should institute that one…
@ adam: Right on! Just look at JFK.
@ monica: Thanks, girl!
@ christien: I probably have just never gone after the kind of goals that I am now, hence I never made the connection.
@ Holly: Haha, that’s great! I’ll tell all the man folk to be on the lookout, since you’re on the prowl! Have fun.