Happy Tuesday!

I've been in love with aesthetic stationery for about 10 years now, and missed them dearly during my 8 months in Latin America.

When I started my semester in London, my friend, Nara, sent me a viral Instagram reel of a stationery shop named Choosing Keeping—and I knew I had to go.

The shop was a feast for the eyes. I was greeted with a wall of luxury decorative papers going for 10 GBP, 20 GBP... and 130 GBP.

Choosing Keeping also sold 95 GBP glass dip pens. For context, you can buy a glass dip pen for 2 GBP online (excluding shipping).

As I marvelled at the designs and prices, I couldn't help but wonder:

"Who would buy a 130 GBP piece of pretty paper?"

"Who would buy a 95 GBP glass dip pen when you can get one online for 2 GBP?"

The immediate reply in my head helped me understand the 3 principles of value:

1. Different people value different things

Who would buy a 95 GBP glass dip pen?

• A person with purchasing power
• A person who values hand-made items and artisanship
• A person who collects calligraphy pens for their various designs

So: Who wouldn't buy a 95 GBP glass dip pen?

• A broke college student (like me at the moment)
• A pragmatist who prioritizes function over aesthetics
• A non-collector who is satisfied with the pens they already own

Likewise, even if you're a person of value, companies can reject or ghost you for a variety of reasons.

• They might not have the money to hire someone at your skill level
• They might want someone who "fits their vibe" more

Don't take rejections personally, but continue to up your job search game.

2. You need to put yourself in the right places

If you're a flower in the Arctic, you can't expect yourself to attract butterflies. Some areas don't even have butterflies–only bees and mosquitoes.

Likewise, some industries still function on large, in-person networking events. Others rely heavily on client dinners. On the other hand, the networking for some industries can happen entirely online, preferring X (Twitter) over LinkedIn or vice versa.

Research where your people are, and go there.

3. Value needs to be communicated—well

You might be the prettiest flower with the best nectar in the field, but if you remain a tightly-shut flower bud, the butterflies won't flock to you.

Choosing Keeping, the stationery shop with the 130 GBP papers, communicates value by adding descriptions to their higher-end products:

• The 130 GBP papers were "hand-printed in Paris" using "traditional techniques from the 18th century"
• The 95 GBP glass dip pens were "hand blown in Germany" and "one of a kind"

Likewise, beyond the resume, you can also communicate your worth by sharing what you know. This video by Nicole van der Hoeven describes 10 ways you can Learn in Public and put yourself out there more.

Finally, an often-overlooked area of communication is non-verbal communication: The way you dress, your body language, whether you check your phone mid-conversation, and so on.

Observe how you communicate and interact with others online and offline, identify areas for improvement, and strive to communicate consistently across all mediums.

So, the next time you're about to beat yourself up over a rejection, remember:

1. Different people value different things
2. You need to put yourself in the right places
3. Value needs to be communicated well

And realistically, you can only control your efforts toward the last two principles :)

Find Networking Exhausting?

Me too! My experience helped me uncover these 3 principles and they've helped make networking and socializing more effortless. Give them a try and let me know if they work for you!