Hi, my name is Cayla, and I want to talk about the motto I will go by this year. In case you are not sure what a motto is, it is a sentence or phrase that expresses a purpose or principle that people use to fuel motivation. My personal motto is “look good, feel good, act with intention.” What this means to me is that when I dress nicely and my appearance is presentable, I feel confident and ready to tackle my day. Recently, I finished reading a book called “Your Next Five Moves” by Patrick Bet-David, and in the book, he says, “It doesn't matter how perfect a person looks. At some point in his or her career, he or she has struggled.” Whether it is with identity or unexpected events, the difference between success and failure is that successful people radiate effort no matter what. No matter the circumstances, remaining competent and consistent is essential. Successful people put in just a little more effort each day. It does not have to be a big change; it can be a small one. Some people believe they cannot be happy until they have achieved their goals, but when you reach a goal, that feeling is usually only momentary. Instead, you can create habits—also known as systems—that help you build long-term discipline. Those habits will eventually lead you closer to your ultimate goal of becoming the most disciplined version of yourself.

The environment you are in may not seem like a big deal, but everyone should try to be around people who have similar morals and end goals. As much as friends and family matter, it is also important to spend time investing in yourself. Natalie Dawson expressed, “I had to put in work on myself to get clear for me first before I ever became a value or asset to anybody else.” This means that working on your internal self is not selfish. Improving your mindset, habits, emotions, and clarity about who you are and what you want is important if you want to be a real asset to others.

Something I have come to learn over the past few months is that showing up as your best every single day can be hard, especially when you are exhausted, but I never regret putting myself together in the mornings. One thing that really matters to me is style. Everybody has their own style, and I encourage everyone to find a unique style and embrace it. Create a consistent way of presenting yourself. For example, showing up to school in pajamas one day and business casual the next creates inconsistency, and people may not take you seriously. Ultimately, discipline yourself to be intentional and consistent—look good, feel good, and act with intention.