This is the mantra Betty Suarez repeated to herself on her first day at Mode. Of course, she then proceeded to walk face-first into a glass wall, but isn’t that the way it goes in the real world?

There are many lessons that young people could learn about the world of work from Ugly Betty, and that is the premise behind an upcoming book from Entertainment Weekly writer Tanner Stransky. “Find Your Inner Ugly Betty – 25 Career Lessons from TV Shows for Young Professionals” is a tome about the lessons young professionals can take away from watching their favorite sitcoms.

“The inspiration comes from the fact that ‘Ugly Betty’ is actually a really great example of a young professional getting her footing in the workplace,” Stransky says.

“So naturally, by taking a closer look at what she’s done right and wrong, you’re able to teach young people quite a lot that they can put to good use in their own jobs.”

Stransky gave thought to lessons learned as he was starting his career as a writer.

“I thought about the three post-collegiate jobs I’ve had and considered how advice about Betty’s situations could have been most helpful to me when I was starting out,” he said.

More after the jump

Well, hopefully he never fell off a mechanical steed, but we get the picture. Stransky touches on the one thing Betty has that may be more important than anything else: confidence.

“The gist of the advice is that confidence – and a belief in yourself – is sometimes more important than the skills you actually bring to the table,” he said.

“When Betty walked into the doors of Mode, she was obviously not a fashionista and was clearly out of place. But the one thing she had on her side was confidence and a willingness to put herself out there.”

Stranksy also touches on a very important issue to young workers: being very careful with your online image. Remember when Betty tried the online dating service (and how her co-workers found out almost immediately?). Stranksy says to be very careful with sites like Facebook and Myspace.

“It’s very easy these days for your boss – or potential boss – to find out everything about you online,” he said. “The thing is, they know all young folks are on these sites, and even if they can’t log in, they’ve got their own kids who may let them.”

Granted, most of us don’t have to deal with some of the unusual problems Betty faces every week. “But, in some ways I do think young professionals on television and those in real life are similar,” Stransky said. “Betty has issues with coworkers and her boss, and she’s always trying to figure out the right thing to do.”

You can preorder “Find Your Inner Ugly Betty” here.

Source: Des Moines Register Image via Amazon.com .

Post from: Ugly Betty News

If you’ll remember, in episode 2.13, Betty thought she was going to interview Phillip Roth, a distinguished and accomplished author.  Instead she interviewed “Phil Roth”, author of the book “Tap That (How To Score With Hot B*tches)”.  Roth’s methodology was to insult the target woman (starting with a slight praise), then ignore her till she begged for attention.  For example, when Henry was trying out the method, he said to a woman at a bar, “You have a lovely face.  Your doctor did an excellent job.”

Well, Seth Roberts has found an interesting parallel in Jane Austen’s writing.  Roberts, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, gives these two excerpts from Austen’s Northanger Abbey:

“I have sometimes thought,” said Catherine, doubtingly, “whether ladies do write so much better letters than gentlemen! That is — I should not think the superiority was always on our side.”

“As far as I have had opportunity of judging, it appears to me that the usual style of letter-writing among women is faultless, except in three particulars.”

“And what are they?”

“A general deficiency of subject, a total inattention to stops, and a very frequent ignorance of grammar.”

I can almost see Henry saying this.  And then:

“And pray, sir, what do you think of Miss Morland’s gown?”

“It is very pretty, madam,” said he, gravely examining it; “but I do not think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray.”

Change the language a little bit, and you can almost see Gio giving this line.

I just think it’s pretty funny to think that the greasy Phil Roth might have read Jane Austen.

Post from: Ugly Betty News