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Making A Positive Impression: 5 Tips For Acing Interviews

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Interviewing for a new job is one of the most stressful situations that anybody can go through. In most cases, you only get one chance to nail the interview, and it could be for your dream job. Because of this, you want to make sure that you leave a great impression and ace your interview. For some, it’s easier, as they have practice with interviews or just have a natural way of at least presenting themselves positively to a potential employer.

For the rest of us, though, we may need a lot of help, and that’s where we come in. Here are five tips for acing your next interview, even if you’ve never had an interview before or have struggled with them in the past.

Exude Confidence

When you’re trying to land yourself a sweet new job, it’s important to show a healthy level of confidence. Not to be mistaken with cockiness. Employers want to see that you’re confident in your own abilities and can handle pretty much anything the job throws at you. Hiring employees with confidence makes the company look better than if they hired someone more timid and meek. It’s important to wear your confidence comfortably and not let it turn into arrogance or cockiness. That will likely turn any and all employers away immediately. 

Practice Conversation Skills

Along with confidence, employers want to know how strong your conversation skills are. Are you able to hold a conversation? Are you capable of initiating healthy conversation? Are your conversation topics comfortable and inoffensive? During your interview, make sure you’re able to read the room and use your conversational skills to the best of your ability. Try not to be too chatty, or too reserved. Give your interviewer plenty of space to speak. Make them feel listened to and understood. Doing this will show your potential employer a certain degree of conversational intelligence they are certainly looking for to represent their company. 

Look the Part

As to be expected, you must look at the part when going for an interview. No matter the job title, go into your interview hygienically, with a tidy haircut, and donning a proper outfit.  Nobody wants to hire an unkempt employee who shows very little care for themselves. An employer wants to see that you can keep up with appearances and put in the effort. How you present yourself will reflect how you’ll represent the company. Remember to dress accordingly based on the job description. It’s possible to overdress and make a fool of yourself just as you would by undressing. 

Know How to Talk About Yourself

Sure, you’ve mastered your conversational skills, but how well will you perform when you’re the topic of discussion? Employers will want to know who you are and what you offer. What use are you to the company? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your thoughts and opinions on the job title you’re interviewing for? Interviewers will pick your brain to find out these things and expect you to be able to present them with information about yourself to better understand if you’re the right person for the job. Gather some talking points about yourself beforehand so you’re well prepared. 

Ask Questions  

After all is said and done, interviewers will often ask if you have any questions for them. So it’s helpful to have some prepared. The interviewer won’t want to be bombarded with a barrage of pointless questions. Make sure your questions have thoughts and purpose behind them. Perhaps ask what your potential employer expects out of you. Ask practical questions regarding starting pay, shift scheduling, and the benefits the company offers. Don’t forget to throw in the classic “When do I start?” Just kidding, don’t do that. Whatever questions you ask, keep it simple, and to the point

How To Balance Productivity And Rest: 5 Tips To Help You Improve Your Routine

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Prices seem to be going up on every item on a daily basis, while wages aren’t matching that same type of growth. Because of this, more people are being forced to work longer hours just to make ends meet, and it’s taking up much of our free time. For people that work in the office, there could be a couple of hours required just to prepare for work, and with commute times, there aren’t many hours in the day to simply relax.

This can end up being overwhelming, and people who work from home can even feel the crunch where there’s no work-life balance. If you feel like you can’t find a good balance between productivity and rest, here are five tips to follow that will improve your life.

Set a Schedule 

If you’re looking to better balance your work life and home life, creating a set schedule will surely help. Set aside time to specifically focus on work. It can be a large block of time with breaks in between, or smaller and more frequent blocks of time to break up the monotony. When it’s time to rest, do your best to take yourself out of the work mindset and purely focus on rest and relaxation.  

Indulge in Self-Care 

Speaking of rest and relaxation, when it’s time to unwind after a long day of productivity, it helps to treat yourself to some healthy self-care. Self-care can be anything that makes you feel truly relaxed, fulfilled, and happy. It’s whatever is good for your mind, body, and soul. It can range from going out for a night on the town, booking a spa day, going out shopping, spending time indulging in your favorite hobbies, or simply staying in and watching your favorite shows and movies in the comfiest pajamas. Whatever makes you happy and comforts you is sure to relax your body and mind before you return to the grind. 

Stay Present 

The most challenging task when it comes to balancing work and play is oftentimes knowing how to separate one from the other. When you’re trying to unwind, maybe your mind is wandering and focused too much on work. When you’re stuck in a rut during work, maybe you’re focused on being home and relaxing. If you can master the art of living in the present, you’ll have a much easier time keeping your mind from wandering. Practice being mindful and focusing on the task at hand. You’ll find yourself being more productive at work and able to fully relax during your downtime. 

Break it Up 

Balancing productivity and rest can be made simple by breaking up work and play into shorter, more frequent bursts. Designating smaller blocks of time to be productive and taking plenty of time for breaks in between can help break up the monotony, make you feel rejuvenated and refreshed, and therefore increase your productivity throughout the day. It really can be as simple as that.

Keep the Work Area Separate  

If you’re working from home, this is the tip for you. Balancing your work life and home life is challenging to do. It’s even more difficult when you work from home. Creating a disconnect from work when you’re home and vice versa isn’t exactly easy to do when your place of comfort becomes your office. There are some things you can do to help create that mental disconnect. Make sure you keep your work area separate from the rest of your home. Designate a spot where you’ll be able to focus, be free of most distractions, and that is out of the way of your normal activities. During your downtime, be sure to keep away from your workspace and create a comfortable oasis within your home to retreat to. 

Going On a Safari? 5 Essential Tips

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Every year, tens of millions of people make their way to Africa to go on a safari where they can see exotic animals that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. From lions and elephants to hippos and giraffes, safaris offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors. Don’t expect to simply get off of the plane, hop in the back of a Jeep, and go on a trip, though.

There are some things that you need to know to make sure that your safari is safe and fun for everyone involved. Here are five essential tips that will boost your safari experience.

Listen To Your Guide 

This may be the most important tip you’ll put to use. Your guide lives the safari life day in and day out. They know how to track the animals, their names, their behaviors, and all the ins and outs of the land and the animals who inhabit it. No matter how silly a rule might seem, there’s a reason for every single one and that reason is the safety of you and those around you. Don’t be cocky, listen to your guide, and be respectful of the professionals who know what they’re doing. 

Remain Seated 

Speaking of listening to your Safari guide, one cardinal rule you should know before your venture is that you must remain seated in the guide’s vehicle. The reason for this is an interesting one but it makes perfect sense. Although they’re wild animals, they’re accustomed to seeing safari vehicles pass through their territory. In their mind, they cannot separate human beings from the vehicle itself. When you stand up in the vehicle, it creates that separation and the animals quickly grow to realize you could be prey. 

Don’t Distract the Animals or Attract Attention

This should go without saying, please do not distract the animals or attract attention from the animals on your safari. You are a guest in their habitat. Not only is it greatly frowned upon to do this. It’s also extremely hazardous and can threaten the lives of you, your fellow safari crew, and your guide. More than likely, your guide won’t be heavily armed. Their job is to protect animals, not harm them. If something goes awry, there’s not much you can do. It’s best to prevent a problem before one arises. Remember to be respectful to the animals and mindful of your actions. 

Be Prepared

Odds are, if you’re going on a safari, this isn’t your first rodeo. You’ve likely prepared for some sort of wild adventure before. If you’re new to this whole adventure thing then you’ll want to properly prepare yourself for any and all situations that may arise. First and foremost, you’ll want to dress comfortably and practically. No bright colors, or busy patterns. No camouflage, or dark colors. Keep it neutral and protective from the sun, bugs, and nature. You’ll definitely benefit from bringing a camera, charging blocks, sunscreen, bug repellent, tough boots, a safari hat, as well as a map and GPS for when you make your way to the safari trail. 

Expect the Unexpected

We’ve all seen those crazy videos online where someone on a safari captures a tense situation on film of safari vehicles being chased and flipped over by elephants, wild animals making their way into the vehicle, and many more terrifying encounters. Some safari goers have been lucky enough to experience rare and unique encounters as well. You never really know how your safari trip will turn out. So, expect the unexpected. Stay vigilant. Be aware of your surroundings. Listen to your guide. Most of all, enjoy the incredible views of nature and its wild inhabitants  

5 Iconic Marketing Campaigns Used By KFC

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Back when it was first spawned by Colonel Harland Sanders in the early 1950s, Kentucky Fried Chicken was a local chain that didn’t really rely on marketing outside of word-of-mouth. Over the years, though, it evolved into KFC, a global fast-food giant that has a spot in just about every major market. KFC has been able to get to the top thanks to some amazing marketing campaigns throughout its history, with these five being the most iconic.

Revolving Door of Colonels

Probably the most popular and successful marketing campaign KFC has given us is the hilarious portrayal of the late Colonel Sanders, by a wide variety of random celebrities. Over 20 actors and actresses have dressed up in the classic and unmistakable Colonel Sanders attire. Some of the most notable have been the late Norm MacDonald, Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta, Reba McEntire, Jason Alexander, and Sean Astin. 

Though, it all started out with talented impressionist and SNL cast member, Darrell Hammond, who originally thought he’d be portraying the Colonel permanently. KFC had other plans and booted the poor guy, moving on to other celebrities to keep their campaigns fresh and ever-changing.  

Cocktails With a Twist

Have you ever wanted to drink KFC gravy straight from the container? Let’s assume you have. Don’t you wish you could drink off that sweet nectar without judgment? Your wish has been granted. You can drink gravy in style with KFC’s delicious marketing campaign, gravy cocktails. Following the interesting trend of making savory cocktails, also known as “stocktails”. 

KFC released recipes for The Gravy Mary, The Finger Lickin’ Sour, and The Southern Twist, all using a savory portion of their delectable gravy in lieu of the typical sweet mixer. 

KFC Bath Bombs

In November 2017, KFC Japan pulled a marketing stunt that was intriguing and kind of brilliant. With how popular the KFC franchise has become in Japan, especially during the holidays, the greatly adored restaurant released fried chicken-scented, drumstick-shaped, bath bombs that were extremely exclusive. 

Only 100 bath bombs were produced and only 100 randomly chosen Twitter users who retweeted KFC’s promotional tweet received the deliciously unique creation. It’s not the craziest thing KFC has done, but it’s another notch in the belt of the wild, yet effective marketing schemes the restaurant has come up with.  

Tender Wings of Desire

Do you know what all moms desire on Mother’s Day? Did you say wings? Or perhaps a romance novella based on the Kentucky fried heartthrob Colonel Harland Sanders? Why not both? Published in 2017, Tender Wings of Desire is a romance novella specifically marketed toward mothers for Mother’s Day. 

The story follows Lady Madeline Parker, who runs away from her strictly controlled life at Parker Manor. Finally feeling free and in control of her destiny, she unexpectedly ends up in the arms of the hunky and mysterious sailor, Sanders. Unfortunately, the book received poor ratings, but you can’t say it’s not one of the more creative marketing schemes any fast food franchise has come up with.  

Fried Chicken Flavored Nail Polish

In 2016, KFC unveiled its newest, and perhaps most unsuccessful, marketing scheme. Delivered in luxury packaging, KFC touted the colors Hot & Spicy and Original Recipe which essentially looked like a blend of herbs and spices, while others compared it to speckled gravy. What really set the nail polishes apart from normal ones, though, was that they were edible and were supposed to taste like KFC chicken.

Reviewers didn’t think it tasted all that great, though, but the whole campaign brought a lot of attention to KFC. Unfortunately for most of us, we weren’t able to get our hands on some of the KFC nail polish. “We’re not mass producing it,” a spokeswoman said. “We are only giving previews to the media to test the market reaction.”

5 Things We Miss About The Glory Days Of The Early Internet

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The internet was introduced at the end of the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that a large portion of the world really had access to it. These days, almost everyone in developed countries has internet access, and it has changed a lot since those early days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Let’s take a look at internet history, get a little bit nostalgic, and talk about five things that we miss about those glory days of the world wide web.

Anonymity 

In today’s world, online anonymity is a luxury. It’s difficult to keep all of your personal information out of view. While there are still forums like Reddit where you can remain anonymous, there are plenty of others that require you to sign up using your Google or Facebook accounts that have your real name. Because of this, anonymity has been taken away for a lot of people, and that doesn’t even count the number of people being ‘doxxed’ online.

Let’s say you’re a content creator that rubs one viewer the wrong way. That person is likely to attempt to track down your personal information, including your full name and address. It’s scary to think about what people can do with that info, and it wasn’t really something that we saw in the early days of the internet.

Simplicity of Emotes

On every Android and Apple device, you’ll find a variety of emotes to accompany any and all of your messages, comments, and posts. Typically when you’re chatting on the phone, or in person, you can easily read each other’s emotions, sarcasm, and mannerisms. Emojis add a personal touch that you can’t really achieve through plain text. 

Back in the glory days of the internet, you had to get creative and make use of the buttons on your keyboard to form simple, yet effective, emotes. Though that era has come and gone, we will never forget the fun we had coming up with the OG emotes. 

Social Media Not Being Weaponized

Just about everyone on Earth uses some form of social media. With easily accessible apps, like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and various dating apps, there’s an array of alternative forms of communication. Compared to the few select methods of communication available back in the day, like calling someone’s landline, talking in person, posting in online forums, or sending emails. 

The problem with social media today is that the more popular it becomes, the higher the chances of coming across internet trolls with bad intentions. Of course, there are always going to be some bad eggs in the bunch, but today’s social media has given more of them a platform to go about their bullying and abuse. 

Safe From Being Turned Into a Meme

Memes have officially taken over internet culture. There’s a meme for just about every occasion, that’s happy, sad, funny, or dark. In most instances, memes are harmless fun and provide the masses with laughter. Though, that’s not always the case. Memes have often been weaponized for abuse and bullying toward unknowing targets. 

Memes are seemingly harmless, but when an abusive meme gains traction and attention, it can ruin lives. That’s why we miss the good ol’ days of the internet when your misfortune wouldn’t become a meme. Part of that was how few people had cameras rolling 24 hours a day and the amount of time it took to upload a video or make a gif. Now, just about anyone can do it within seconds.

Lack of Advertising/Subscriptions

In the early days of the Internet, almost everything was confined to message boards and instant messaging services. Even when you went to major websites, you didn’t see a whole lot of advertising outside of some affiliate links. While those major websites still have affiliate links that aren’t pervasive, almost everything else is sponsored content. This is especially true when it comes to video and streaming services.

These days, it’s impossible to watch a YouTube video without getting an advertisement, and even the best adblockers can’t stop ads on streaming websites. Plus, almost every big website and streaming service has a subscription service, leading to users getting nickeled and dimed each month on top of paying for the internet.

Texting Etiquette: 5 Tips For When You Are Starting To Date Someone

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Texting was introduced at the end of 1992, but it wouldn’t be until around a decade later that it became something that just about everybody was doing on their phones. Now, without the restraints of texting limits and the introduction of messaging apps, people are spending most of their days responding to texts or starting new conversations. This includes texting their significant others or potential love interests.

Texting has become an integral part of dating, and you want to make sure that you don’t mess it up when you start dating someone. There are a few unwritten rules that you should follow if you want to find success while dating. Here are five of those tips that will keep you looking good in the eyes of your new partner.

Don’t Bombard Them With Messages

After you first start seeing someone, it’s easy to get carried away trying to keep the conversation and chemistry alive. You might find yourself wanting to send your newfound love interest message after message, even before they’ve responded to your previous messages. It’s okay to feel excited and chatty, but remember to be considerate of the other person and keep your messages more condensed. Your new flame will love hearing their phone go off, knowing it’s you messaging them, but they likely don’t want notifications constantly going off and interrupting their day. 

Be Respectful and Patient

We all lead relatively busy lives, but there’s always time for love. With that said, we all deserve patience and understanding when we have personal priorities to tend to. Set and respect each others’ time and privacy, even when you’re texting. Nobody likes an anxious texter who relentlessly sends messages wondering what they’re up to and vying for attention. It’s normal to want attention and if you feel you’re not getting enough, bring it up to your new partner. Otherwise, understand that patience is key and they’ll respect you more when you respect their time. 

Don’t Be Clingy  

When you’re in love, you’ll feel enchanted by someone else’s presence and want to be around them all the time. If you’re not careful, your new love may lose interest and think you’re overly clingy. It’s important to set boundaries and maintain each others’ individuality to keep things fresh and comfortable. Set time to spend together and time to focus on your separate interests. Give them a heads-up when you’re doing your own thing, so they don’t think you’re ignoring them. Respect each other’s free time and learn to feel comfortable with each other at a distance. 

Initiate Conversation 

We’ve all been through the dilemma of how soon to text back and debating on whether to make the first move. Being unsure can result in a communication standoff, where neither of you take initiative to begin a conversation and take too long to reply. It’s the new age of dating and playing “follow the leader” is a pretty big turn-off for most. Rather than sit and wait for your new love interest to text you, start the conversation yourself and include topics that interest the both of you to keep things flowing. 

Keep it PG-13

This is probably the most crucial tip when you start texting your new love interest. Don’t get ahead of yourself and jump right into adult conversation. Save that for later when you’re both more comfortable and acquainted with one another. Unless you’re both purely interested in keeping it R-rated, of course. Stick to light flirting and getting to know each other better to start. Moving too quickly could scare away your new love interest and end in disaster. Being on the same page about your intentions and confirming your partner’s consent is so important, even through a text exchange. 

KFC Menus Across The Globe: 7 Key Differences Between The USA and France

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Back in the day, Kentucky Fried Chicken was a regional treat that only a small portion of the United States knew about. It didn’t take long for that restaurant to grow, though, and it became a staple around the world. Eventually, the name was simply abbreviated to KFC and almost every major country on Earth got at least one.

The start of the 1970s saw most of the big European countries land a KFC, but it took until 1991 for France to join the fray with seven locations. The following year, though, all of them closed. Thankfully for KFC fans in France, the restaurant got back into the market in 2001, this time with a much more polished plan. Now, there are around 250 KFC locations in France, and their menu looks a lot different than the United States one. Here are seven key differences between the French and American KFC menus.

Variety of Sides

KFC France changes up the usual mac and cheese, mashed potatoes gravy, and coleslaw sides that are seen in American KFCs. In France, you get choices like corn on the cob, crispy onion rings, melty-fried cheese balls, tomatoes, and side salads. It’s surprising they don’t include most of the standard sides, but we’re kind of jealous of KFC France for their variety of sides. 

Salads

Fresh salads became a staple of fast food in the United States after the documentary “Supersize Me” led to more health-conscious menus. Sadly, most of those fast-food salads have gone by the wayside. KFC France has some of the more desirable salads in the fast food world, though. They offer a chicken Caesar Parmesan salad and a chicken tomato mozzarella salad. Both of which can come with a vegetarian meat substitute as well. 

Hot Beverages  

Something you’ll likely never see at KFCs across America are the hot beverages found at KFC France. They offer cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, hot chocolate, mochaccinos, and tea. The tasty beverages are served in cups that look pretty similar to the chicken buckets, an interesting choice on their behalf. It makes sense that a place like France would include that café touch, even in their KFCs.

Chicken Dogs 

A new menu item that has recently been added to KFC France is one that you’ll be rather surprised to see. The chicken hotdog is all the rage at the locations in France, but it’s not an actual hotdog. Instead, it’s a crispy chicken tender formed to fit comfortably in a poppy and sesame seed-covered hotdog bun. The fun treat comes topped with a touch of mustard, a drizzle of cheese sauce, and bacon is optional. 

Dessert 

One of the biggest differences you’ll see in KFCs across France versus American KFCs is their wider selection of desserts. KFC France features menu items like a Nutella muffin, brookies, chocolate chunk cookies, and sweetly topped sundaes like the cookie and peanut butter sundae, brownie sundae, Nutella sundae, and Snickers sundae, to name a few. American KFCs really only offer a chocolate chip cookie for dessert, so your choices are pretty limited compared to KFC France. 

Boxmaster

So far, KFC France gets points for creativity, especially with this next menu item. It’s called “Boxmaster”. We’re not quite sure why, but we’re too intrigued to care. This tasty treat is made up of a crispy breaded chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, sliced American cheese, and a fried potato patty, all bundled together in a wheat wrap. It’s great for people on the go and a bit lighter than heavier items like chicken sandwiches. 

Chicken Sandwiches 

Speaking of chicken sandwiches, there’s a big difference in those between the US and France. American KFC’s typically top their chicken sandwiches with heaps of mayonnaise and pickles. In France, their chicken sandwiches are topped with lettuce, tomato, an American cheese slice, a variety of yummy sauces, and even crispy onion straws. It makes for more unique flavor combinations and a refreshing take on the classic chicken sandwich. 

Essential Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Car Running Smoothly

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Simply owning a car can be a lot of work, and it can also be very expensive. However, the maintenance of a car is nothing compared to the cost of an emergency breakdown that results from a lack of maintenance. If you’re new to car ownership or just want to be more on top of your maintenance, we’ll break down exactly what you should be doing, and how often. Here are some essential maintenance tips to keep your car running smoothly.

Oil

The one thing that most car owners know first and foremost is the oil change. After all, there’s a little sticker that sits in the corner of your windshield showing you when you should get an oil change. The recommendation is that you change the oil and filter after 3,000 miles or every three months, but it’s not the same for every car. Newer cars can go for longer without an oil change, but make sure to read the owner’s manual to find the exact recommendation.

Air Filters

One of the cheapest car maintenance procedures that people often overlook is changing the air filter. At most, this will cost around $80 but usually isn’t more than $30 or $40. The biggest question for most people is how often the air filter should be changed. Oftentimes, the mechanics who change your oil will push for a new air filter, but it can typically be done every 15,000 miles instead of 3,000. It really depends on how much you drive and the environment around you. Those who live in dustier areas with more traffic will want to change their air filters more frequently.

Windshield Wipers

Windshield wipers are things that we don’t really think about until we need them. Have you ever been caught in a torrential downpour just to realize that your wipers are out of date, then forget to replace them after the storm? It happens all the time, but wipers should really be thought about. It’s recommended that you replace the wipers every six months and that it should be even less for those that live in areas with more precipitation whether it be snow or rain.

Tires

Tires require a lot of regular maintenance, and it isn’t just one thing that you should be doing. Whenever you can, check the air pressure on your tires to make sure that they’re in a safe zone. Too much or too little air can be extremely dangerous, so a quick check will let you know if danger is brewing. There’s also the matter of rotating your tires, which should be done around every 6,000 miles, or whenever the owner’s manual suggests.

Then there’s the matter of replacing your tires completely. Of course, it depends on the weather in your area and how many miles you’re putting on your tires, but the rule of thumb is that you should be going no more than six years on the same tires. If you want to go by mileage, it should be between 50,000 to 60,000, but never more than 80,000.

Lights

If you’re someone that works on your own car without going to the mechanic, you should be checking all of the lights on your car about twice per year. Thankfully, lights are easy to check for any mechanic, especially with the equipment that they have on hand. Because of this, most lights (brake lights, turn signals, etc.) are all checked every time that someone brings their car in. If any fix is needed, they tend to be on the cheaper side of things and don’t often pose any immediate threat if not taken care of.

Fluids

Outside of motor oil, there are a few other vital fluids that your car depends on to run at its best. The first one of these is transmission fluid, which should be changed every three years or 30,000 miles. Your transmission going out is going to be one of the most expensive fixes, so it’s important to make sure that the fluids are up to speed.

Power steering fluid is another big one that needs attention, and the same 30,000 mile/3-year rule should follow. Brake fluid also needs to be changed, coming every three years. Coolant should be about every three years (though some vehicles can be up to 10 years) while differential oil is up to five years for synthetics.

Other Considerations

There are a handful of other maintenance considerations to make for your car. Your shocks and struts should be changed every 50,000 to 100,000 miles depending on usage. Spark plugs have a similar time window, though they tend to not be changed until around 100,000 miles. The final piece of the puzzle is the serpentine belt, which, again, should be around 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

5 Examples Of Celebrities Pushing The Limit With Career Choices

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There are a lot of actors who get typecast into a certain role that they can’t break out of. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing when it pays the bills, most actors strive for a lot more with their careers. Today, we’ll take a look at some actors who were able to step outside of the typecasting (and perhaps their comfort zones) with fantastic results. These five examples stand out as some of the best instances of celebs pushing the limit with their career choices.

Charlize Theron

South African actress Charlize Theron has been noted as a blonde bombshell since the start of her career thanks to roles in films including “That Thing You Do!”, “The Devil’s Advocate”, and “The Italian Job”. While that has continued to be her standard role for the most part afterward, Theron took on a much different look for the 2003 film “Monster” when she played real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Theron had to undergo a transformation that made her look unrecognizable. Interestingly enough, Theron didn’t know the story of Wuornos when she took on the role. “The guys always get to play those great gay characters, and somehow women always tend to be black and white,” Theron said. “So I knew this was also something very unusual and might never come my way again.” The role earned Tehron an Oscar win for Best Actress in 2004.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams got his career kicked off as a standup comedian, and his slapstick humor translated well onto the small screen as Mork in both “Happy Days” and “Mork & Mindy”. In the 1980s, Williams continued his comedy career with films including “Popeye” and “The World According to Garp” while also adding some more serious roles. After the 1990s when he had a nice mix of comedy and light drama, Williams took on a much more sinister role in 2002’s “One Hour Photo”.

Williams took on the role of Sy Parrish, a retail store photo tech who becomes obsessed with a family. Things turn dark over the course of this 96-minute small-studio film which also stars Connie Nielsen and Michael Vartan. Williams was nominated for a slew of awards, including winning the Saturn Award for Best Actor. The risk ended up paying off for Fox Searchlight as the film earned $52 million against a small budget.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Austrian native Arnold Schwarzenegger has been pushing the limit with his career choices since the very beginning. Schwarzenegger started off as a bodybuilder and received so much notoriety that he began an acting career. Schwarzenegger starred almost exclusively in action movies throughout the early part of his career. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that he branched into comedy, showing off his great timing.

Arnie then made a career jumping back and forth between the two genres before pushing his career even further. Schwarzenegger began a career in politics, running for Governor of California during the 2003 election when Gray Davis was recalled. He ended up winning the position and served as the leader of the state until the start of 2011.

Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank was a gifted child who was a star athlete and actor, performing on stage before she was even 10 years old. Her family had moved around quite a bit before they made their way to Hollywood during her teenage years where she look to begin her professional acting career. When she was 17, Swank made her screen debut on the television series “Evening Shade” while also landing a main role in the short-lived “Camp Wilder”.

As for her film career, Swank starred in several movies including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and, of course, “The Next Karate Kid”. Things really took an upward trajectory for Swank’s career when she went outside of her comfort zone to star in the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry”. Swank starred a transgendered man looking for love, and the role earned Swank the Oscar win for Best Actress.

Matthew McConaughey

When you think of Matthew McConaughey, you tend to think that almost all of his roles are him playing a stoner, surfer, or some other man who’s simply coasting through life in either a romantic comedy or just straight-up comedy. While McConaughey had dabbled into drama just a little bit by 2013, he went fully into it when he took on the role of Ron Woodroof in “Dallas Buyer’s Club”.

Not many thought McConaughey could have pulled off a performance like that, but he ended up earning himself the Oscar win for Best Actor. It also helped McConaughey land more serious roles, including films like “The Wolf of Wall Street”, “Interstellar”, and “Free State of Jones” in the subsequent years. The speech that he gave after winning the Oscar was an all-timer, too.

The Inspirational Stories of Olympic Athletes: Overcoming Adversity

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The Olympic Games are when the best athletes in the world have the opportunity to showcase their talents to see who the most elite really is. Not only that, but they do it in front of an audience of hundreds of millions of people. Throughout the history of the Olympics, there have been some athletes who have had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get to the top.

Let’s take a look at five stories of inspirational Olympic athletes who had adversity thrown at them, only to come out on the other side with a gold medal.

Betty Robinson

A native of Riverdale, Illinois, Betty Robinson found out that she was fast when a teacher saw her trying to catch a train home from school. During her teenage years, Robinson started competing against the best in the world and it was clear that she had what it took to be the fastest. After winning gold at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Robinson suffered a major setback after being involved in a plane crash.

Thankfully, Robinson survived, but it was going to be a long road back. Robinson couldn’t get into the right position for a 100-meter race due to injuries but was able to train for relay races. After missing the 1932 Olympics, Robinson returned for the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany. Along with the rest of her team, Robinson was able to claim the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. Robinson returned to normal life afterward, living until the end of the 1990s.

Kerri Strug

The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia ended up having a ton of memorable moments, especially in the gymnastics competition. The host Americans sent the team known as the Magnificient Seven, which included Tucson, Arizona native Kerri Strug. Strug had competed at the previous Olympics and was part of the bronze medal-winning team in Barcelona. Anything less than gold in 1996, though, would be seen as a failure.

Strug started training in gymnastics when she was just three years old and had struggled with a stomach injury and weight loss that almost knocked her out of competition. Thankfully, Strug was able to get back into form, but she suffered a serious ankle injury during the 1996 games. Still, Strug landed perfectly during her performance and held firm, being carried off by coach Bela Karolyi after sealing the gold.

Max Parrot

It took a long time for snowboarding to be included in the Winter Olympics, and there were many elite athletes ready to make their mark when the sport was introduced. Among them was Max Parrot, who started training in the sport before his 10th birthday. Parrot then went on to become one of the greatest snowboarders in the world, winning medals at the X Games. However, in 2019, Parrot received some hard news.

Parrot was diagnosed with cancer in early 2019, just months after winning a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He had to undergo chemotherapy, and despite feeling physically overwhelmed, Parrot continued training for the 2022 games. With the crowd in Beijing looking on, Parrot was able to win his first gold medal in the slopestyle competition. “You have no cardio, you have no energy, you have no muscles,” Parrot said of his recovery, adding that being on the podium “feels amazing.”

Gail Devers

Gail Devers is perhaps the ultimate testament to peak athleticism shining through despite a myriad of health problems. The Seattle, Washington native was a standout athlete in her hometown and earned herself a scholarship to UCLA where she began training for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, Devers began suffering from health problems.

Devers had migraine headaches and lost some of her vision, leading to a Graves disease diagnosis. She had to undergo hormone therapy and radiation treatment while also developing foot ailments that set her back even further. Still, Devers was able to continue training for the Olympics and qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Games. While there, she claimed the gold medal in the 100 meter sprint.

Abebe Bikila

When you think of runners these days, you probably picture them wearing the most state-of-the-art sneakers. Even in the 1960s, shoe technology had come a long way and the best athletes were wearing the best shoes. That wasn’t the case for Abebe Bikila from Ethiopia, however. Instead, he ran barefoot all the way to Olympic gold.

For his second Olympic run, though, Bikila did wear shoes, which may have explained why his time improve so much. Not only that, but Bikila set the new world marathon record in both of his Olympic runs. Bikila went on to become an icon, helping to boost interest in distance running throughout all of Africa.