“Have you ever heard of a curmudgeon?” customer asked. To me it sounded like season’s latest flu virus – curmudgeon influenza. “I believe your last customer is a curmudgeon,” he said. “He didn’t have a good word to say about anything.”

I had to agree with his observation. However, though I like to read almost more than I like to eat ice cream (which is saying a lot), his unusual word is one I had never come across. So, when I got home I pulled out my Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary and looked up his word. According to Webster a curmudgeon is “a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.”

Yep, that describes customer he was talking about. Fortunately, we don’t have many customers whose minds are so infected. Yet, what’s sad is that many in world who are ill tempered and negative generally don’t realize it’s as a result of habits of thought. It’s also sad that, though we have a choice about attitudes we carry into old age; too many choose by their attitudes to be old long before their time.

The good news is that when attitudinal disease we have described is detected in early stages, a full-blown case can be prevented or cured. Let’s look at two preventive measures.

No one would know how good you are if you would not let them know about it. Whether you are promoting yourself for a job or for a date, you have to advertise yourself well.

You have written your own personal ad. Unfortunately, no one seems to be paying attention on your ad. You are a little apprehensive that you do not possess skills you need to write a successful ad. You are thinking that perhaps it's not really your writing that's making you less appealing but your very own personality. You want to overhaul your ad but you are considering others to write for you because you feel you can't make an eye-catching ad.

Do not feel dampen about it. There's a lot in you than you can think of. It's just a matter of assessing yourself. Discover your full potentials. Examine your ad and check what's lacking in there. You might only be missing some good points.

Want to write a successful personal ad to get you in your dream job or a hot date? Why ask someone else to write for you when you can hire yourself to be your advertiser!

Be your own brand manager. It's all right to ask your friends how are you as a person. But remember, it is only you who knows your true personality. It's just that sometimes, you do not pay attention analyzing yourself and discovering your full potentials.

Here are some helpful tips in writing successful personal ads.

1. Be honest Do not let others expect too much from you or expect less of you. Write what is only true. Do not exaggerate data. Bare your true personality. Don't under estimate yourself. Show your best qualities if you must. You should not be ashamed to flaunt it if you really have it.

2. Be different Create your own style. What makes an ad boring is that it looks like same as others. If your readers see that it's same as others, they might even think that you just copy your own. Be unique. Make an exclusive claim of your ad. Avoid being stereotyped. This will make your individuality a lot visible. And this will set you among rest. Avoid creating an impression that you are plain and boring.

3. Learn from reading others Examine other works. Read them carefully and take note of their good points in writing. Search for best successful personal ads and make them your guide in developing your own style. Determine styles they use to make their ad very interesting.