Are you looking for ways to stick out among your peer group? Here are seven simple strategies to help you to distinguish yourself from your peers. 

Do The Work

Embracing a strong work ethic helps you stand out among your peers. A solid work ethic is a sign of your dedication. It shows that you care about your work. It signals that you can work longer hours than people who want to do the bare minimum.

You show up. You are consistent. Consistency helps you to build momentum. Momentum propels you forward in your career or a new side hustle.

Working hard is not enough today. You also must work smart. Ways to work smart include:

• Properly manage and direct your time to finish tasks on time.

• Knowing when and what type of work to delegate to others. 

• Utilizing productivity tools to cut the amount of time spent on a project. 

Critical Thinking

Being able to think critically helps you in many areas of life. It can help you find inconsistencies in stories. Things missing from what was said or that was intentionally left out. 

Critical thinking can help discover new opportunities that other people miss. It inspires curiosity and creativity. Critical thinking allows you to find new opportunities that others miss.

Critical thinking allows you to dive deeper under the surface. You can uncover problems that are not immediately visible. The car hood may appear fine, but there may be multiple problems once you open it.

An action-first mindset can help you solve these problems. If you are correct in your assessment, the market could reward you handsomely. You brought value where you found a need. Critical thinking and analytical skills are what help you discover the problem.

Self-Learning

Self-study will serve you better than any overpriced college degree. The school and higher education system do not prepare you for life. This is by design. Students are taught theory and often read outdated books or use old programs. Abstract theory does not matter. Only execution matters. 

Self-learning allows you to learn new skills. Study subjects and topics you find interesting. Then, most importantly, take action. Apply your skills and knowledge.

You do not have to remain stuck working the job you are at. You can upskill. Or you can go out on your own. You can start your own business. 

Learn Basic Social Skills

Be social with others. Focus on learning verbal and non-verbal communication skills. These interpersonal skills will help you in your personal and professional life. Social skills and communication are critical for career development. 

As society has become more casual, etiquette basics have been lost. Simple social skills to know are:

• Timeliness: Arrive on time for appointments and meetings. 

• Handshake: Give a strong, firm handshake to the person you meet. 

• Eye contact: Look at the person in the eyes you are talking to.

• Say 'hello' and 'bye' to people.

• Learn a person's name if you see them regularly. 

• Open the door for someone, particularly women, when you are entering or leaving a building. 

• Don't talk about yourself. Ask someone about themselves.

• Ask open-ended questions.

• Be able to carry a conversation.

• Don't look at your phone or scroll through social when you're having a conversation with someone.

• Keep your phone off of the dining table.

• Don't swear or be rude.

Learn to give a strong, firm handshake while looking someone in the eyes. When entering or leaving a building, hold the door open for someone, especially women. 

These are simple social skills that have been lost in modern society. Just doing the basics will make you stand out. Mastering these basic social skills can set you apart in a social or professional setting.

Practice Basic Self-Care

Take pride in your appearance. Depending on your location, dressing one or two levels up can boost your confidence. Dressing well helps you feel more prepared for any situation. Simply caring about your appearance will help you stand out in a positive way. 

Urban and metropolitan areas are more dressy compared to smaller towns. In a larger city, add a pocket square to a blazer. In smaller towns, wear a collared shirt or a blazer on top of a nice T-shirt. 

Self-care is not just about you. It's about showing consideration for others. Be clean-shaven, brush your teeth, and comb your hair. Taking care of yourself is a responsibility. Self-care allows you to maintain a respectful and considerate appearance in public. 

Practicing essential self-care is a sign of self-respect. It signals to others that you have dignity and self-assurance. By respecting yourself, you also show respect to others who have to see and interact with you in public. 

Pursue Personal Growth

Self-growth helps to make life enjoyable. Only by continuing to challenge yourself can you grow. Self-development can help improve your life for the better in many different ways. 

You could set a goal to exercise to lose weight. You can strength train at the gym to build muscle. You can go on daily walks to get sunlight and fresh air on daily walks.

You can improve your time management skills to be more productive. Productivity management can help you prioritize tasks and projects. You can utilize productivity apps and tools. You can embrace technology to help you finish a project faster.

Understand The Basics Of Personal Finance

You don’t need to be a financial whiz. You don’t need to know about complex economic theories. But, you must understand enough about the basics of personal finance to maintain and grow your net worth.

The bare bones of personal finance are:

• Do not have any debt.

• Live below your means.

• Follow a budget.

• Save money every month. 

• Invest in retirement accounts.

• Find ways to make your money work for you. 

• Boost your income.

Keep it simple. 

Summary

Following the crowd leads to dissatisfaction. Now, you have the choice to implement these strategies by taking action and differentiating yourself from your peers. 

Order your copy of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. 

Views expressed in this article are the author's opinions and views and do not reflect the views of Secure Single. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Secure Single does not give health, medical, relationship, travel, or financial advice. Secure Single does not provide advice of any kind. Always consult and speak with a professional. James Bollen is the author of Thriving Solo: How to Flourish and Live Your Perfect Life (Without A Soulmate). It is now available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.