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Picture this: You're lounging on a beach, phone tucked away in your hotel room, completely disconnected from your business for two full weeks. Does the thought make you break into a cold sweat? If so, you're not alone – and more importantly, this might be the wake-up call your business needs.
and it's one of the most revealing indicators of whether you've built a truly valuable business asset or created a job for yourself.
But here's the thing: building a sellable business isn't just about planning for some distant future exit – it's about creating freedom and value right now.
Let me share a perspective that changed how I view business building forever.
Every decision you make in your business either builds or diminishes its future value. Think of it like building a house – you wouldn't construct it without thinking about its resale value, would you?
The same principle applies to your business.
It's not just about making money – it's about how you make it.
A truly valuable business maintains healthy profit margins (typically 15-30% in traditional businesses, higher for online ones) and, more importantly, has diversified revenue streams. Think of it as not putting all your eggs in one client basket, which builds your business resiliency to various economic and market shifts over time.
Remember that beach vacation we talked about?
That's only possible with a scalable business model. This means having documented processes that anyone can follow, leveraging technology, and creating systems that don't rely on your personal genius.
Here's a reality check: When was the last time you tried a new business without Googling them first? Exactly. Your online presence isn't just marketing – it's a crucial business asset. A professional website (check out the designer of my beautiful website), active social media, and positive online reviews aren't optional anymore; they're essential components of your business's value.
One of my clients recently took their first two-week vacation in five years. The result? Their business not only survived but thrived. How? They had gradually built systems, trained team members, and documented processes that made them non-essential to daily operations.
Think subscription boxes are just for product businesses? Think again. Every business, even service-based ones, can create recurring revenue models. From maintenance contracts to loyalty programs, the key is creating predictable, steady income streams.
Want to stop competing on price? Your market position is key. This isn't just about being different – it's about being strategically different in ways that matter to your target market and create barriers to entry for competitors.
Efficiency isn't just about cutting costs – it's about optimizing operations so you can deliver premium service without premium overhead. This means smart automation, streamlined workflows, and strategic use of technology.
A documented growth strategy isn't just for big corporations. It's your business's GPS, showing potential buyers (and yourself) the path to future growth and opportunities.
Clean books, proper licenses, and protected intellectual property might not be exciting, but they're crucial to your business's value and transferability.
Even if selling isn't on your horizon, planning for it forces you to build a better business today.
If this feels overwhelming, remember: you don't have to tackle everything at once.
Start with the Vacation Test.
Plan a short break. Think what you need to put in place in your business to make it happen. Create a step-by-step plan and implement it. Then go away and observe what breaks down in your absence. These pain points become your roadmap for further improvement.
Begin with these three steps:
Remember, building a sellable business isn't just about the eventual payday – it's about creating a business that serves you, rather than enslaves you.
The Real Question The question isn't whether you plan to sell your business.
The question is: Are you building a valuable asset or just buying yourself a job? Because the same elements that make your business sellable also make it more enjoyable, more profitable, and more capable of running without your constant presence.
Ready to start building real business value? Take the Vacation Test. Your future self (and your potential buyers) will thank you.
Want to dive deeper into building a valuable, sellable business? Let's talk about your business's potential. Schedule a free consultation with me here to discover how we can transform your business into a valuable asset.
In the latest episode of the Diamond Effect podcast, international business and leadership coach Maggie Perotin kicks off a five-part series dedicated to marketing. This episode focuses on identifying and addressing five key indicators that your marketing efforts may not be as effective as they could be. Maggie emphasizes the importance of clear messaging, engagement, and understanding your target audience to improve marketing results. Here, we break down each of these indicators in detail, offering actionable advice and thorough explanations to help you enhance your marketing strategy.
Networking, whether online or in person, is a crucial component of any marketing strategy. If you’re not receiving quality referrals from your networking efforts, it’s a sign that your marketing and messaging may not be resonating with your audience.
Maggie advises that if you’re not seeing progress each month, it’s time to reassess your approach. This could involve tweaking your messaging, being more active in your networking efforts, or even exploring new networking opportunities.
A weak online presence can significantly hinder your marketing efforts. If your social media accounts and website aren’t attracting visitors or inquiries, it’s a clear sign that your marketing may need a revamp.
Maggie clarifies that it’s not about going viral or having a massive following, but rather about having a presence that engages your ideal clients. Troubleshoot by examining your messaging, understanding the platforms you’re using, and ensuring your marketing strategies align with where your ideal clients are.
Even if you have followers, a lack of engagement indicates that your messaging may not resonate with them. Engagement is a key indicator of how well your marketing is performing.
Maggie highlights the importance of creating content that encourages conversation and connection. Engagement is not just about numbers; it’s about building relationships and fostering a community around your brand.
Having followers and engagement is great, but if no one is reaching out to inquire about your services, your marketing strategy may need adjustment.
Maggie stresses that the ultimate goal of marketing is to guide potential clients through a journey that leads them to feel comfortable enough to reach out for help. If this isn’t happening, it’s crucial to evaluate your marketing strategy and ensure it includes elements that encourage inquiries.
Receiving inquiries from individuals who are not your ideal clients can be frustrating and a sign that your messaging needs refinement.
Maggie emphasizes that amplifying ineffective messaging through paid advertising will not yield better results. Instead, it’s essential to first ensure your messaging resonates organically before investing in ads.
Throughout the episode, Maggie underscores the importance of clear and compelling messaging in attracting the right clients. By focusing on these five indicators, you can evaluate your marketing efforts and make informed decisions to enhance your strategies, ultimately leading to greater success in your business.
By addressing these key indicators and implementing the recommended strategies, you can enhance your marketing efforts, attract your ideal clients, and achieve greater business success.
In today's world, e-mail has become one of the primary means of communication. Whether it's at work or home, some of us receive hundreds of e-mails a day. Who can read and process this much, I ask?? In my workplace some people can have whole e-mail conversations lasting hours or days on a subject that could take 15 mins if someone decided to pick up the phone.
Don't you ever feel like pulling your hair trying to keep up with e-mail traffic? Or that you have not accomplished anything productive most of the day other than responding to e-mail? Do you feel stressed by the sheer volume of e-mail you receive every day? I certainly do.
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place"
George Bernard Show
So what can we do to take over the control that e-mails wield on us? To become more productive and less stressed? And to make our e-mails sources of true communication? Here are some tips that can help with that.
According to numerous studies e-mail occupies 25% of employees' average work day. That is 13 hrs each week! On top of that an average person checks their inbox over 30 times an hour i.e. almost every 2 mins.
You can easily see now why we feel stressed or that we have not accomplished much throughout the day. OK, so what do I do you ask?
You will see that not only some of those lengthy e-mail conversations will take care of themselves by others jumping in but also in time people will stop expecting you responding right away. Think of this as setting ground rules and boundaries to protect your precious time.
By setting those boundaries your stress level will go down significantly. You don't have to just believe me on this one. It's been proven through research done by the University of California Irvine and the US Army.
And the best of all, you will now have time to work on those assignments you have been struggling to finish, meet the deadlines and get recognized!
Studies conducted at UCLA have shown that 50% of communication happens through facial expressions and body language, 40% through voice intonation and only 10% through actual words.
As you can see, having your reader understand the e-mail you sent them in a way you intended it is not that easy since 90% of your potential success is impossible to get via e-mail.
As a leader, leading by example is your job.
This includes e-mail communication. Even if you don't care about the titles and think that yours does not matter, remember that for others it does. The more "powerful" your title is, the more people feel pressed to respond to your e-mails right away and the more sensitive they are reading them.
That is why on top of the above tips that can help anyone, here are couple of others that Bosses should take to heart.
"Communication - the human connection - is the key to personal and career success. "
Paul J. Mayer
To sum up, paraphrasing Paul Mayer's wisdom, if we want to be successful, we need to know how to communicate with others. E-mail is just one means of communication but probably the most challenging one. Let's never assume that our reader will know how to interpret the meaning of our message. Going against our crazy busy world, slowing down, and taking the time to write meaningful and thought through e-mails will always pay off.
Any change starts with you.
As a business owner, manager, executive - a LEADER - are you excited for 2019?
Do you have a vision of what you and your Team will accomplish this year? Or you don't know how and where to start?
Here are 5 steps that can help you get going.
New Year is on, out with the old! - you might be all to happy to do that.
I am like that, a forward-thinking person that likes to move on from past to the future as soon as possible.
But, hold on, someone wise once told me that there are benefits to taking some time for reflection and learning from the past.
Let's do that first then.
I guess, no one really enjoys making the same mistakes over and over.
New mistakes are great! It means we are trying new things, being innovative and curious.
Whereas, making the same mistakes many times gets quite boring, frustrating and only reinforces Einstein's definition of insanity.
Therefore if you have not done that yet, I highly recommend sitting down with your Team and your Boss (if you have one) and asking a few questions:
Once you have those answers, you are armed with wisdom to enter the gates of 2019.
After reflection, second would be goal setting. We all love it, don't we?
To set meaningful goals, remind yourself first of your mission and values.
Does your organization or department have them? If yes, awesome! You can keep reading.
If not, look out for my next week's post that will try to convince you why you should. For now, please see below for a quick sneak peak just for you.
For me mission and values are a foundation of any organisation. They are like a lighthouse constantly showing way home to wondering boats.
"The mission announces exactly where you are going and the values describe the behaviors that will get you there."
Jack Welch, "Winning"
Setting the goals for your Team that are directly tied to your mission and values can bring extreme focus to the business, help it to stay authentic and with that competitive.
People, myself included, look for purpose in their lives. Meaning is what makes us happy.
Having goals that are meaningful, tied to a vision, and realistic will give your Tem a sense of accomplishment when you reach them.
And once that happens, it's time to CELEBRATE!
We all know that when hell breaks lose, plans are nothing but pretty looking paper.
However, planning IS EVERYTHING and that is what you should do next.
It's during the process of planning that we can prioritize. In today's day and age most organizations have more to do than they can chew on.
New opportunities and urgent matters are pouring through the doors with the speed of light.
But as the old saying goes: if everything is important, nothing is.
Picking top 1, max. 3 priorities for the month, quarter or whatever planning cycle you chose to dare into, will bring further focus to your Team.
Planning time is what helps you determine what those priorities are.
During this time, you should also break them down to small attainable steps (ex. weekly goals and priorities).
As a result, you will protect your people from feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that needs to get done.
Now what about you? Have you thought about taking time for self-care?
I know you are laughing inside thinking what is she saying?
Who has time for that? There are so many important things to get done...
How could I possibly spare even 15 mins of "unproductive" time?
I am sooo busy ....
Let's learn from the aviation industry then ...
You know, the putting of the oxygen mask on you before you help anyone else.
Yeah, exactly ... we are no good as leaders to anyone if we are running around like a headless chicken, half burned out and only putting out fires.
Sometimes we need to step back, look at our business from the eagle's perspective, reflect and recalibrate if needed.
To be able to do that we need time to clear our minds, rest and re-charge.
Why?
Because our Teams rely on us to lead them through adventures to the safety of success not rocks of destruction.
Last but not least - how do I make all of this happen?
Well, put it on your calendar.
Take charge of your time (or at least most of it) and don't let urgent get mixed with important all the time.
Make it a priority, to take time now, this week, to schedule all important recurring events and keep them as sacred as possible.
Then ensure you keep scheduling and planning each week ahead of time.
Yes, it takes discipline, organization skills, and drive; but that is why we are leaders, aren't we?
So what do I need to schedule, you ask? Here are a few ideas:
In case you are not sure what to do in those meetings, look out for my posts in the coming weeks.
To summarize, leading a Team and organization to success is not easy but having a vision and a plan supporting its execution helps with taking action and getting there.
I am writing about Courage today because it is one of the values I have chosen to guide and define my business. Helping business owners and managers to step into leadership that is brave enough to build cohesive teams and healthy organizations is the core of my mission.
My inspiration for this post came from the books "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" by E. Favilli and F. Cavallo. They are one of my kids' favourites bedtime reads.
Values guide our behaviors in personal and professional lives. No one questions the need of having a set of values in our personal lives. But, if you ever wondered why any business should define them for their operations, have a look at on of my blog posts.
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
MAYA ANGELOU
Courage can demonstrate itself in many different ways.
And below, you will find five inspiring stories of women that defined courage with their lives.
The Mirabal Sisters, also know as "Las Mariposas" were freedom fighters in the Dominican Republic. They were opposing the regime of dictator Raphael Trujillo. The sisters organized and participated in multiple protests and movements against the dictatorship. Together with their husbands, they were jailed multiple times. On November 25, 1960, the Mirabal Sisters were murdered by the regime. Their leadership and courage became the inspiration to Dominicans to continue opposing Trujillo's dictatorship. It eventually was abolished.
November 25th is now recognized as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Click here for the source article by Victoria Sanchez.
Maria Curie-Sklodowska was a Noble Prize-winning scientist. Together with her husband Pierre Curie she discovered radioactive elements: polonium and radium. Marie was born in Poland in 1867, at the time when the country was part of the Russian Empire. Since women were not allowed to attend university, she attended a secret Flying University in Warsaw. Marie Curie moved to Paris and joined Sorbonne, the university that accepted women students.
Throughout her life, to be able to follow her passion for science and research, Marie had to overcome many barriers. Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Noble Prize, the first person and only woman to win twice. She was also the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences (physics and chemistry).
Marie and her husband refused to receive monetary awards and medals and they have given away most of their first Noble prize money. Curie has also intentionally refrained from patenting her discoveries so that scientific community could continue the research.
Click here for the source and more detailed information on Marie Curie-Sklodowska.
Frida Kahlo, one of the most famous painters of the 20th century, suffered unimaginable pain all her life. As a child, she suffered from polio. In her student years, she had seriously injured her spine in a tragic bus accident. Frida started painting when she returned home from the hospital to alleviate her pain and kill time. In the self-portraits, Kahlo was expressing her physical suffering. Despite her multiple surgeries and deteriorating health Frida continued painting and being active in the Marxism inspired political movement.
In of her famous quotes, Frida says: "At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can."
Click here for more details on Frida Kahlo's life.
Viola Desmond (née Davis) was a Canadian businesswoman and civil rights activist. Born in 1914 in Halifax, she built her career and business as a beautician. Through her Desmond School of Beauty Culture, Viola was an inspiration and mentor to young Black women in Nova Scotia. In 1946, Viola Desmond stood up for equality of rights. She challenged racial discrimination when she refused to leave the segregated Whites-only section of a theater. For her act of courage, she was arrested, jailed overnight and convicted without legal representation for a "tax offense". Viola was not able to receive a pardon despite the efforts of The Nova Scotia Black Community trying to assist her.
Desmond’s brave refusal to accept an act of racial discrimination provided inspiration to other Black People in Canada. Click here for the source article.
Zaha Hadid was an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, in 2004. She became famous for her bold building designs with many sweeping lines. The Guardian called her the Queen of the Curve. She designed the aquatic center for the London Olympic Games 2012 (UK), Michigan State University's Broad Art Museum (US), the Guangzhou Opera House, and Beijing Daxing International Airport (both in China). Zaha was not afraid of being different. The Metropolitan Museum in New York talked about her buildings as "unconventional that seem to defy the logic of construction".
With her drive to cross boundaries, Zaha designed buildings that everyone else thought impossible.
To read more about Zaha Hadid's work, click here.
Courage is not an easy value to live by but we all have it inside. We show it in small and big actions, in many different ways every day. Courage gives us the freedom to do what's right and be ourselves.
"There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.
But sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.
That is the sort of bravery I must have now. "
VERONICA ROTH, Allegiant
Quite often we interpret an e-mail or somethingsomeone said to us in a negative light. Right after that, we get upset orstressed about it, only to find out later that our interpretation of thesituation was not precisely accurate. Or in the worst-case scenario, we reactto it with anger, which creates a spiral of misunderstanding, hurt feelings andlost "relationship chips," especially in our professional lives.Let’s face it; we have all been there.
I can’t even count how many times someone accused me of ignoring their e-mails only to realize, they sent an e-mail to a different Maggie or made an error in the email address.
Take a second and honestly respond to thisquestion. If you had 5 good little things happen to you in a day, 4 neutral and1 less good (bad or mildly bad), which thing you are going to remember themost? We all know the answer, don’t we?
It’s because of our so-called brain’s negativebias. In the caveman ages, this type of bias (focus on the bad, ignore thegood) was necessary to save our lives. Human’s survival instinct allowed ourrace to expand and become a dominant species. Yey to us!
However, in the 21st century, this bias became more of an unnecessary system glitch and is hurting us more than protecting from life perils.
This glitch works in such a way that when we feelsurrounded by bad or at best neutral qualities in others and barely notice thegood ones, subsequently we feel less supported, less safe, and less inclined tobe generous or pursue our dreams. And on the other hand, when another persongets the feeling that we don't see much good in them, they are less likely totake the time and see the good in us. Sounds familiar? I am sure you can thinkof at least one moment from last week when this scenario happened to you.
So, what would happen then, if we tried to flip thescript, made a conscious effort, and started assuming positive intent in ourinteractions with others?
As leaders we are always being watched, whether wewant it or not. Leading by example can be a lonely gig.
Remember a time when a bad word slipped your tongueonly so that you 3-year old could learn and use it at the most inconvenientmoment in public? The same happens at work and your employees.
That’s why becoming self-aware and learning how tocontrol and direct our negative emotions, will save us from falling into trapsof doing something that can damage our reputation and we will laterregret.
When we assume positive intent when interacting with others, especially our employees they can see we are on their side. Just like you most people want to do a great job and be successful and are not planning to ruin anyone’s day.
Putting ourselves in other’s people shoes enablesyou to act with empathy and look at things from their perspective. Thisattitude allows our employees to trust us because they see we are on theirside. With trust, we strengthen our relationships, create win-win situations,and in consequence, we can motivate people to help us succeed in our businessmission.
Moreover, when we take a moment, avoid reacting toissues and start assuming positive intent, we begin assessing the situationfrom different angles. Such an approach not only builds our strategy muscle butalso with a changed perspective can reveal solutions that we would not havethought otherwise or present us with opportunities we did not expect.
It's like coming out of a basement with only onesmall window to look outside to a large bright central room with windows givingyou a panoramic view on the area.
Assuming positive intent starts with our thinking. And Mahatma Gandhi described it the best, nothing more is needed.
Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.
Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.
Mahatma Gandhi
First, let’s recognize & acknowledge that most people just like ourselves are good human beings. Whatever they do, they want to do best they can and have no intention of making your life difficult. They want to excel at their job, be challenged and successful.
Secondly, let’s make a conscious effort tounderstand people’s point of view and put ourselves in their shoes. It willchange our perspective on how we perceive them and allow us to be moreempathetic. Maybe that e-mail from your peer that seems rude was sent it themidst of a crazy and stressful day, and they did not think about proofreadingit? Or the mistake that your employee made that caused an escalation you had todeal with was because you did not communicate your expectations clearly?
Thirdly, let’s lead by example. Take a few momentsto cool down before responding to an e-mail that seems rude. If you know youare clouded in your judgment by negative emotions, ask for help from people whodo not have any stakes in the situation. Their interpretation and suggestionswill help you become more objective and consider different scenarios.
The speaker shows a trick on how to rewire your brain to start consciously noticing and storing the good, as opposed to the negative. It’s worth watching!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpuDyGgIeh0
There are three main scenarios in which you can become a new manager:
1. You already have some leadership experience, and by moving to a new role in a different department or company, you start managing an existing team.
2. You are a Star A-player in your team and get promoted to a leadership position within it.
3. You are a "solopreneur" or a leader of a start-up division where business is growing, and now you need to start building and managing a team from scratch.
Starting today, over the next threeweeks, I will write about all three of those scenarios covering the mainmistakes that leaders sometimes make and giving you tips on how to avoid them.
All this information is anexcellent source of learning to all managers and can apply to many scenarios.So don’t miss out and follow the series to get most of out it!
Any role has a core mission andpurpose, whether it is clearly stated or not. Remember then that yourorganization hired you for a reason. You are a manger so that with your teamyou deliver specific results to the company and help solve real challenges.
That is why, as soon as possibleyou need to fundamentally understand what vision your new boss has for yourrole and what outcomes they see you achieve.
If you are lucky you found some ofthat during the interview processes. Maybe you asked, or maybe whoeverinterviewed you mentioned the main aspects of the role and expectations.
However, you need to take theinterview process with a grain of salt. Interviews are like a sales pitch onboth sides. On the one hand, you try to sell yourself and get the job you havedreamed of. On the other side, the employer attempts to sell the position theyare hiring for. They do that by striking a balance of setting the rightexpectations to attract the best candidates but also trying not to scare themoff right from the start or disclose too much of confidential internalinformation to the public.
Now you know why it is crucial thatright after the start date, you need to take steps, listen, ask questions andlearn to fully understand what is going on around you and why were you hired.
This bring me to advice # 2.
One of the common mistakes newleaders make when coming into the organization is by having a mindset ofknowing “the answer” to all the problems their teams are facing. Avoid that atall cost! Not only you definitely will not have all the answers, but also youwill show up as arrogant and insecure. Such an attitude will only alienatepeople form you.
And because of this, instead ofgaining the trust of your team and build the proper relationships, you will putyourself in a trust hole that you might not be able to get out of. I know thatyou do not want to be sabotaging your chances of success, especially right fromthe start.
Yes, reading reports, contracts and documents necessary for your role is critical. However, to get to know your new company or division, you need to talk to people. Striking the right balance of both will allow you to form your own informed opinions on the environment, people, as well as what is working and what is not.
If you have lead teams before, I amsure you know that each company or even department has a unique culture thatyou will want to understand and adapt to. Not venturing into the learningthrough connecting with people and relationship building, you will isolateyourself very quickly. So be humble, listen and ask questions first. You willbe amazed at how much you can learn!
That is why, my last three tipstalk about connecting with people, starting with your team.
Taking time to know your teammembers is the best investment you will make as a leader. You need to figureout quick who are your stars, your solid rock performers, and your bottom 10%that needs to be coached or find better opportunities elsewhere.
One-on-one meetings are one of thebest ways to do it along with regular staff meetings.
Ensure you make at least the firstcouple of on-one-ones friendly and relaxed as opposed to formal and stiff. Youremployees cannot feel like they are in an interrogation or a performance reviewright from the start.
You should definitely prepareyourself by thinking of a set of good questions to ask but don’t forget aboutallowing for some time for your team members to ask questions as well.
Additionally, think of introducingyourself as a professional but also a human being. Showing your personal sidewill make you authentic and give you credibility. Why? Because credibility isestablished not only by experience and technical skill but also by beingvulnerable. Now, to avoid the trap of making the meetings all about you, yourpart should be short and sweet.
With the right questions,observation, and positive atmosphere, you will get to know your team membersnot only as employees but also individuals. This approach will help you startbuilding trust and have your employees open to you.
In turn, it will increase the team member engagement and benefit the company the most. Knowing them as individuals will also allow you to find out what motivates them. And that will give you ideas on proper ways of recognizing and coaching your employees.
If you are finding these tips helpful and would like to receive more, for example, strategies on how to assess the qualities of your team members, then sign up for my newsletter. This week’s edition includes top-notch actionable advice that you can start using right away! Click here to sign up.
Sometimes while learning, gettingto know their team, putting out early fires, etc., the new managers forgetabout the relationship with their boss. Ironically, the bosses are the ones,whose buy-in and support you will need with all of your major decisions,infinitives or changes.
Building a positive relationshipwith your boss is one of your key opportunities to transition successfully intothe new role. That is why you need to invest time and effort to understandthem. Just like with your employees, find out what motivates them; what aretheir priorities and goals they need to achieve? What are their challenges andhow you can help in solving them? What are their expectations of you and theirway of working?
Answers to those questions willgive you a glimpse into your bosses’ value’s, concerns and struggles.Surpassing the superficial puts you on the right path to establishing a truepartnership with your boss.
For your team to be successful,which will make you successful, you need to form alliances and create two mainnetworks with people outside of your direct control.
Operational – those are the relationships with other people in the company that will help you and your team, perform your daily tasks and do your jobs efficiently (ex. IT or marketing). Your role as a leader is to remove roadblocks from your team's way so they can keep going. Operational networking helps you achieve it.
Strategic – those are the relationships with key stakeholders, outside of your direct control, whose support you will need to deliver on main goals and objectives.
Building alliances and networkstakes time, usually longer than a month or two. However, in the first 90 days,you can at least identify the key people with whom you should form suchrelationships and start the process.
Attempting to do too much at once is verytempting, especially when you enter a dysfunctional environment. However, striking the right balance betweenlearning and making decisions leading to pivotal changes is key to success.Identifying and focusing on what you need to learn first, will allow you tofind and secure the right early wins.
Yes, you can experiment and trydifferent approaches in overcoming challenges and solving problems. Butexcessive experimentation in the beginning or starting on too many changes in ashort time will only confuse and overwhelm your people. Striking the rightbalance is key!
In summary, stepping into any newrole is as exciting as it is challenging. To be successful, you need to useyour first couple of months in it strategically. Make sure you understand thecore purpose of why you were hired. Come in with an unassuming and learningmindset. Take time to get to know your team, your boss and build relationshipsfounded on trust and credibility. Lastly, identify people who can help yourteam and you in your journey to success and start creating supportive networkswith them. If you take all those steps, you will be walking the path ofsuccess.
PS. I hope you enjoyed this post and will follow the entire series. However, starting today if you want to learn more and have access to exclusive, actionable advice that you can apply right away, click here and sign up to my newsletter. It will take you less than 20 seconds and in turn, give you access to the wealth of knowledge on how to be successful in any leadership role!
With neuroscientists understanding our brain much betterthese days and a multitude of studies conducted on the subject, you must haveread by now that our mind cannot multitask.
All it can do is one task at a time. If you have ever triedto comprehend and respond to a long e-mail while paying attention at aconference call, you know what I mean. I sure did try, and it did not work verywell.
Inc.com, MIT neuroscientist Earl Miller says that our brains“are not wired to multitask well… when people think they’re multitasking,they’re just switching from one task to another very rapidly. And every timethey do, there’s a cognitive cost.”
If you want proof, try to do an exercise described in the article under this link.
THE OUTCOME? Tasks take us LONGER to do; results are LESSACCURATE; we put MORE EFFORT and are MORE STRESSED.
And below you will find out about 3 main reasons why working on being present is your way to success.
Think about last time you interacted with a person who gaveyou their undivided attention. Who listened to you all the way, did notinterrupt and asked some meaningful questions? How did they make you feel? Iknow, right! And that's the whole point!
When you are present in the moment and fully engaged in a conversation with a person you make them feel like they are the most important person to you; you make them feel valued, heard and understood.
Who does not like that?
People respond when they see you are listening attentively to what they want to say. Such attention will not only produce fewer misunderstandings with others but also inspire them to act the same. Which in turns builds stronger and healthy relationships.
We all have the same amount of time on this planet -24/7/365. This most valuable resource has been fairly given to all of us.
So what differentiates the most successful people? Contrarily to what we might think, it’s not their intelligence or connections. Most of them are as smart as you and me. Moreover, when they started, they had the same or even fewer connections or other resources. However, what they do better from us is how to use is their time.
They succeed by having clear goals, eliminating distractions, focusing their attention on what they wanted to achieve, and sticking with it even through the tough times.
We have so many distractions grabbing our attention everyday, that our brains became addicted to them: social media, e-mails and all thepings they create on our phones. Even if as you read this you think: ”Yeah! Sheis right. I am going to completely change my patterns tomorrow and become amillionaire in a month”, it is not going to work.
That's why being able to take control of your attention, and with-it time, and then direct it into what’s most important to you requires practice. It requires determination and commitment to breaking the old ways and building new better habits.
Can it be done? Of course, it can! I did it and working every day at improving even more. If you want to learn more about the system to do that, click here and let’s talk!
Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.
Alexander Graham Bell
The study conducted by researchers at the University ofCalifornia, Irvine, shows that multitasking makes us anxious. They performed atest which measured the heart rates of employees with and without access tooffice email. Those who could read their emails at any time remained “wired up”and exhibited higher heart rates than those who could not check their e-mails.On the other hand, the second group performed their tasks relativelystress-free.
I want to dare you to take this ONE-DAY CHALLENGE WITH ME.
Try out these 3 simple things just for 1 DAY and then let me know how it went 😊:
1. When you wakeup, before you look at your phone and start rushing, take 3 mins to sit on thefloor deep breathe and stretch lightly (no straining or going crazy!)
2. During the day,pause for 30 secs between each meeting or new “task” and take a few deepbreaths (if you can - close your eyes)
3. At the end of the day, think of and write down 3 things that happened and you are grateful for.
To conclude my story: being present is a way of achievingsuccess. It is also a way to happiness. Not only does it allow us to producemore with the time we have, but it also improves our relationships and makes ushealthier by reducing stress.
Let’s then be inspired to try it by one of the greatest modern dancers in the world Martha Graham.
This week’s blog concludes a 3-weekseries for New Managers.
It is designed to helpentrepreneurs or freshly promoted new managers who need to start building andmanaging a team from scratch. In less than 10 mins, this read will save youfrom making some rookie mistakes and show you alternative ways.
As a reminder in the past couple ofweeks we covered the following topics:
Week 1. You already have some leadership experience, and by moving to a new role in a different department or company, you start leading an existing team. Click here for more.
Week 2. You are a Star A-player in your team and get promoted to a leadership position within it. Click here for more.
Let's get started then! Here are the 3 best ways to avoid a rookie manager's mistakes.
As you start growing your business,hire people and become a manager, your role is no longer only tactical. Yes,you will still need to do some fire fighting here and there, but you also needto take time and focus on the big picture. Which translates into beingstrategic about your business.
Depending on your role and size ofthe organization, in the beginning, the strategy portion might be 10% of yourtime. However, as the business grows, or you climb the corporate ladder, thisratio will start going up significantly. Therefore, starting to build your strategicmuscle early will help you progress into it with ease.
Being strategic means knowing whatis truly important, not just urgent. It means ensuring that you take time towork on the important and not letting the urgent overshadow it. Yes, I knowthat you are getting a “better” sense of accomplishment from responding to 100e-mails a day or helping employees with their tasks. But as necessary as itmight be for you sometimes to jump and fight in the trenches, it cannot consume100% of your time.
Don’t focus just on activities, setgoals and focus on accomplishing them. Being strategic ensures that yourbusiness grows and stays competitive as opposed to just spinning like a hamsterwheel.
So far you have been either doingit all in your business or doing specific tasks as an individual contributor.It's all natural then that at the beginning of your management journey you wantto do it all alone.
Beware though as it’s an old habitfrom the past you need to get rid of as fast as you can. Not only because youwon't have time to be strategic, but also you will become one of those annoyingmicro-managers that no one wants to work for. You need to show confidence andtrust your people to do things right.
1. Treat delegation as a way to develop andgrow your team members. It’s not a dump and run tactic. Delegation takes timein the beginning. It teaches you strategy, requires planning and patience.
2. Match the delegation’s tasks with the strengthsof the employees to whom you will assign them.
3. Clearly define the goals – an outcome ofthe functions you are passing on.
4. If required, train your employees of anyaspects of the task performance. Show them anything that is important to you,but don’t constrain them to one way of reaching the goal. Just give them ideas.Ensure they know they can put their own spin to it. Remember, many roads leadto Rome. Let your employees pick one of them; you might enable innovation thisway :)
5. Trust your employees not only withresponsibility but also the authority to make some decisions along the way.Clearly define for them, which decisions they can make, on which they need toconsult with you, and which you need to make.
6. Don’t forget about feedback – praise your employees for a job well done and if there is anything they need to improve on, tell them about it candidly and constructively.
"Nothing we do is moreimportant than hiring and developing people. You bet on people, not onstrategies.”- Lawrence Bossidy
Many great and successful leaderstalk about it all the time, but somehow it's not a common practice yet. At theend of the day, your people are your success. As a Boss, your main job ishiring great talent and developing them by coaching and feedback.
It’s not easy to do, especially inthe beginning. It is why people management skill development is so important.Don’t just learn on the job. Big mistakes can cost you not only your job orloss of business but also affect your employees, real people with families whomthey support.
Of course that no one is perfect,everyone makes mistakes me included, and you will make them too. It is why youneed not to be afraid to acknowledge you do not know it all and get support. Ifyou are a new manager in a company, reach out to your boss, HR partner or moresenior colleagues for advice. Maybe you can find a mentor. If you are asolopreneur, connect with those who have large teams and are killing it.
Throughout my career, I have developed my skills through many different channels: on the job, in-person training, online courses, formal education, as well as mentors and senior colleagues. Although I made many mistakes along the way, I know that all that investment paid off. It prevented me from causing significant damages to the teams I managed and the businesses I run and also speed up my growth as a leader.
Since building a team, starts with recruitment, I prepared a free guide with 6 hiring strategies to help you start on the learning journey. It’s a quick read, a token of appreciation for those who want to learn for them and their people. Click here to receive my e-guide: ABC of Hiring.
To sum up, business is oftencompared to team sports: there are goals to hit, and people are in it to win.As per Michael Jordan: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence winchampionships.”
As a Boss are your team’s main coach. It’s on you to hire talent, develop and coach the talent and above all ensure that all the individual talents become a high-performing Team. I compare a great team to a puzzle: every piece is different, but with a great leader when put together, they create a beautiful & cohesive picture.
We all understand what optimism and pessimism mean. However, for this blog to bring everyone on the same page, I chose the definition by Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the founder of Positive Psychology. He defines optimism as reacting to issues with a sense of confidence and high personal ability. Specifically, optimistic people believe that adverse events are temporary, limited in scope (as opposed to present in every aspect of a person’s life), and manageable.
Even if you don’t consider yourself an optimist you surely must know one. For me, it was my grandfather. No matter what life threw at him: war, communist regime prosecution or other hardships, he had always remained positive and believed that things would get better. Looking back at my childhood now, I know that it was he who taught me how to see the glass half full.
There is a multitude of benefits of being an optimist. Let’sexplore the ones that are a crucial part of your success in business.
In a study of 99 Harvard University students, those who wereoptimists at age 25 were significantly healthier at ages 45 and 60 than thosewho were pessimists.
In turns out that optimistic people have better mental andphysical health because:
• They look atdifficulties in their lives as external things that happen and will pass.Optimists experience less distress than pessimists when dealing with them. Thatis why they suffer much less anxiety and depression;
• They also adapt betterto negative events, which allows them to recover quicker from common sicknessesor even more severe ones, for example, coronary artery bypass surgery;
• Optimists report havingmore health-promoting habits like eating a healthy diet, being active or havingregular medical check-ups;
• It comes as no surprisethen than optimists tend to live longer as well.
And as evident as it is, I will still say it. Our health is themost important gift we have. It’s hard to lead any business if we arephysically or mentally unable to do it.
Optimistic people tend to be more productive as they set goals,make plans to achieve them and are not scared to put them into action. Combinethat with the fact that they do not to give up easily, hoping that thesituation can be handled successfully in one way or another, no wonder theyachieve more than pessimists.
Moreover, optimists are more resilient in the face of adversity.They treat failure as part of life, the opportunity for improvement, which inturn helps them to learn and keep moving closer to achieving their goals.
Optimists take Benjamin Franklin's words to heart: “Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”
Another benefit of being optimistic is that your positive outlookmakes you a better leader. Why?
Because people are naturally drawn to leaders that are upbeat andhave a positive attitude a see the world as a glass half full; on top, moodsare contagious, so no surprise that no one wants to hang out with downers,especially at work.
Imagine having to work for a boss that always complains and thinksthat nothing will ever get better. How demotivating is that? Or a CEO who doesnot have faith in the success of the business they lead … How can they inspirepeople to follow their vision with such attitude? Ridiculous right?
Still not convinced?
What about analyzing the results of presidential elections then?It turns out that 85% of the US presidential elections over the past centurywere won by the more optimistic candidate.
That’s is why, if you re a leader or aspire to be one, optimism isessential to your success.
Now that hopefully, you are excited about the benefits of optimism, you will ask me: OK, but what if I am more of “a glass-half-empty: type of person? What do I do?
Research and literature published by Martin Seligman prove that itcan. If you want to take on the challenge, read his book “Learned Optimism. Howto Change Your Mind and Your Life”.
Additionally, since we are talking business here, I’d like you toconsider optimism as one of your strategies to achieve business success.
Convinced now but do not want to read an entire book? That’s OK,let me then share with you the below five quick tips on how to improve yourpositive outlook:
• Practice gratitudedaily;
• Practice acts ofkindness, doing good to people and expecting nothing in return;
• Develop a positivemindset by using your imagination to rehearse success (Michael Jordantechnique) and treating setbacks as the beginning of growth, opportunities forimprovement that jumpstart you to success;
• Grow your leadership skills; don’t know how? I can help! Click here and let’s chat 😊
• Set goals, find ways to achieve them and then just do it! Don’t know where to start? Here is a read that can help you, just click.
Following these strategies will give you hope (a key component of optimism) but also show your brain what to look for. It’s hard to drive a car to a destination if you don’t know the directions. By the same token, your brain needs guidance to bring you to success; otherwise, it will wander allowing your life to be taken over by other people’s agendas and priorities.
In summary, if you are a natural optimist – that’s great, keepgoing and never lose it! If you are not, don’t worry it’s not yet alllost. Learning how to practice optimismwill help you improve your health, become a better leader and achieve greatersuccess in business…
(..and pssst don’t tell anyone but in personal life as well!)
Todays’ post starts week 2 of theNew Manager Series.
This week I am talking about how toget promoted within your organization to a manager role. But also, once you getthere how to turn it into success.
So if you are working in a positionthat you feel you have outgrown and want to move up, get comfortable and readthese tips.
Doing your job well but “just doingyour job” is not enough to be considered an A player - promotion candidate.That’s why you are getting paid – to do your job well.
You need to be excellent at whatyou do. Better than anyone else. Be so good, that you can train others tobecome as good as you are.
Like with everything, if you wantto be a star you need to be hungry and have a desire for doing more than what'sexpected of you. You should also be looking proactively for additionalresponsibilities within your current role. Don't wait for them to be presentedto you on a silver platter.
At the same time, you need to accomplish all this with humility.
It’s the opposite of arrogance and insecurities that lay underneath it. Being humble means having self-confidence in your abilities without having to show it to anyone blatantly to prove your self-worth. It means understanding that no one is perfect and having an open mind for feedback and self-development. You need to be objective about your strengths and opportunities for growth and development.
What makes you a manager materialis becoming a leader before you have the title.
Here a few ideas what it means to bea leader in a peer group:
- Be engaged – care about the business, learn as much as you can to understand not only your role but also those of your peers and manager; understand how all these tie with a larger operation of your company;
- Take ownership – acknowledge your imperfections and admit your mistakes. That makes you real. Being defensive when your manager gives you feedback does not help you get better and derails you from the promotion path;
- Implement the learnings – being open to feedback is only the first step to being a leader. Nothing will get better if the teaching you were given is not actioned upon. Having a growth mindset needs to be tied together with action – this is the only way you will improve;
- Put others first - when your team succeeds, you succeed.
Following Zig Ziglar’s advice “You can have everything in life that you want if you just give enough other people what they want.” will help you build a good relationship with your peers. When your peers trust that you have their best interest in mind, they will also trust you to do the same when you become their manager.
- Don’t complain about things that do not work – provide solutions instead. Find better ways of doing things, improving your day to day tasks and recommend them to your manager in a constructive way.
An engaged team works much bettertogether and make the work environment fun. You want to be at the forefront offostering such behavior. Positivity, good energy and fun while getting thingsdone makes for an attractive workplace.
Negativity, complaining withoutproposing solutions and gossip are demotivating for all. They demoralize theteam, lower productivity and make the best people run away screaming. If youmake yourself part of such environment or worse create it – what are you goingto do when you are the one who has to manage it and take responsibility for theresults?
To sum up the first three points inone sentence: be an employee you would want to have on your Team as a Manager.
Do you want to check if you are there? Fill in my self-assessment that will tell you if you are ready for a promotion. Click here to have it sent to you.
OK, so now you got the dreampromotion, you are a manager, and you will realize that even though all theabove still applies, there are several new skills you need to hone to besuccessful in the new role.
Below is the overview of 3 mainones that put you on the right track:
Junior managers often have a hardtime understanding that the urgent cannot overshadow the important. Fightingfires and solving small daily issues is what you have been successfully doingso far. It is probably something you feel comfortable with, and that gives youa feeling of accomplishment. As important as those tasks still are, they cannotovershadow important initiatives you will need to work on as a manager.
Understanding the big picture, developing strategic thinking and planning skills is indispensable in your ability to lead your new team to success.
Note that as a manager, yourprimary job is to lead a team not to do it all alone. Learning how to delegateproperly will allow you to grow your people, avoid the feeling of “dumping” thework on them you do not want to do, and make you effective in your role.
Additionally, remember that your relationship with your manager is a partnership, not a “servitude.” Make it a positive one then. Understand your role and expectations of you. You can read more details on this topic in last week’s blog here.
Asking for advice and help when youneed it is part of your job. Raise issues early enough before they become adisaster. No one likes to be blindsided by problems, especially in the worstpossible moment. The pain you have to go through when this happens is muchworse than the pain of admitting one’s mistake and raising the smaller issuethe moment it happens.
As humans we tend to avoidconfrontations. It’s a natural behaviour for most of us. That is why givingfeedback and coaching your team members on unwanted behaviors is something mostmanagers are not comfortable with, especially new ones. However, avoiding toaddress essential issues with the staff deprives them of the opportunity to getbetter. If left “unattended” for too long, the problems will escalate and canbecome personal. It is a selfish behavior i.e.; you are not doing a favor toyour employee choosing to ignore the issue because you want to avoid feelinguncomfortable having a difficult conversation. Giving constructive feedback isnot about asking people to change their personalities, it’s about helping themto improve their behavior.
To sum up, managing people is realwork. It requires skills that must be developed and improved on throughout yourentire career. Good managers always make it seem natural and effortless. That iswhy very often people have these perceptions that being a leader is easy. It isvery rewarding but not easy.
For me, leadership is a lifelongjourney of self-discovery and commitment to the growth of ourselves and thepeople we lead. Focusing outward on our people, making it all about them,forces us to look at ourselves. When we identify what we need to do to improve,our team will trust us enough to believe in the vision and mission we want toaccomplish.
If you enjoyed this post and it has inspired you to invest in yourself and develop the skills you need to get promoted or rock your existing management role, let’s connect! To set up a free coaching session with me, click here😊
Have you heard of complacency and its pitfalls? I’msure you have seen it around you whether in businesses as a customer or peopleyou knew.
Think of a time when you went to a new restaurantthat started with fantastic food and customer service. How excited you were todiscover the place, go to and celebrate important moments of your life, hangout with friends, or go on dates. And then after some time, the restaurantbecame a victim of their success and slid into mediocrity with dull orovercooked food and barely acceptable customer service. How did you react?After the first bad experience you never showed up there again …
This story is a prime example of complacency.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, complacency is a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder.
And the Merriam Webster dictionary describes it as self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.
Whether you have a business or a corporate career,if you take your success for granted (just like the restaurant in the abovestory), it will slip away from between your fingers fast.
Why? Because the quality of work you deliver,services or products you sell will quickly deteriorate if you don’t appreciateor treat your customers the same way you did when you started your business ornew role.
That’s why being clear on what you stand for, whatare the values of your personal or business brand is so critical. Keeping yourvalues & brand image at the forefront of your mind will help you avoidsliding into self-content and its dangers.
If you haven’t thought of your values yet and don’t know how to even go about it, click here and let’s set up a FREE strategy session where I can help you get started.
Unless you are an unapologetic extrovert who lovesschmoozing or a marketing enthusiast, business or career networking andmarketing is hard work for a lot of us. No wonder then we will find any excuseor opportunity to avoid it.
However, staying connected to your friends,professional and business network will help you in times of trouble, presentopportunities you never thought would exist, or allow you to test those ideasyou have been mulling over in your head for a long time.
With complacency you lose your curiosity. You fallinto the trap of thinking that you know it all, seen it all, and you have somuch experience that no one can teach you anything new.
Don’t be that person! We can learn everywhere,anytime, from anyone; not only from people with more experience than us. We canlearn as much from those with less experience than us our even kids; the mainreason being - that they have a different perspective.
I can’t count the times when people much younger orless experienced than me, including my 4-year old son, thought me somethingvaluable or inspired me to have courage to do something I was afraid of doing.
Without curiosity and an open mind, you will also lose on a great opportunity that might be laying right in front of feet and all you need to do it look down to notice and bend down to pick it up.
What is the last time you read a book or magazinerelevant to the industry you are in? Do you ever attend the industryconferences?
The world we live in today is going throughexponential growth and crazy changes. What it means is that the progress is notlinear anymore, it's cumulative. It compounds like interest on yourinvestments; that why the financial planners always say to start investingyoung.
80% of the technology that we will be using in thenext 10-15 years have not been invented yet. Everything we know is obsolete almost the moment we learn about it.
Staying up to date with advancements in your industry will allow you identify the gaps in your skills that you will want to bridge or become aware of what your business needs to improve on or invest in to stay competitive on the market.
The content with your abilities, for sure will notmotivate you to invest in your self-development. However, in order to grow, toachieve the big audacious goals you have, you need to relentlessly invest inyou, your self-development.
And please don’t let your complacency convince you that you are too busy to find time for investing in yourself. You do have time, we all do. All it takes is having clarity of your goals and discipline in planning and organization of everything you do around these goals. If you don’t take charge of your time and life, others will run it for you, and you won't even notice. Don’t let it happen. You are a LEADER of your own destiny. Take action today! And if you don’t know where start, click here for help and schedule a FREE consultation.
Never be complacent about the current steps; don't agree and follow the status quo. Be determined that you are making an indelible impact with great change. Now, dress up and go to make it happen!
Israelmore Ayivor
What is your opinion on the below?
Is a success inbusiness or anything else based on a bit of luck and IQ of the person? Or doesit come from hard work and consistent effort?
The most recent research has shown that we overestimate theeffect of more luck-based characteristics such as IQ and underestimate theimportance of dedication and perseverance. Grit is the better indicator of aperson's overall success than their IQ, social environment they come from,their education or connections they have.
Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, who conducted the research, defines
grit as passion and perseverance to achieve long-term andmeaningful goals.
In other words, it is the ability to persist in somethingyou feel passionate about and not give up when you face obstacles or experienceutter failure. This kind of passion about having direction and stayingcommitted to tasks that may be difficult or boring.
If you'd like to read more details on the research itself, I highly recommend Angela Duckworth's book "Grit. The Power of Passion and Perseverance"
However, here to illustrate how grit can propel you in life, I'm going to tell you a story that is not in there. It's the story I discovered through reading "Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls" to my 7-year-old daughter.
Misty Copeland discovered her passion for ballet at the age of 13, which is quite late for anyone to become a professional athlete. Her family was homeless at the time living in a motel. Her newly discovered passion for this dance and perseverance in grueling ballet practice brought her to win multiple awards, scholarships and perform significant ballet roles.
Then, at the age of 29, she suffered a severe tibia injurythat nearly brought her career to an end. The most inspiring and fascinatingpart about it is how it became so severe.
Misty suffered the injury right before her first-everperformance as a soloist in the Metropolitan Opera House. She was to performthe female main character in the "Firebird" ballet. It was ahistorical night, not only was the performance first for Misty but also she wasthe first African American ballerina ever to do that.
Despite the injury, she decided to perform and hide it. Shedidn't want to let down her community who came out that night to support her.
Her performance was magnificent and acclaimed by thecritics, but her injury became so severe that shortly after it she needed toundergo serious surgery on her tibia.
What's most inspiring is that she didn't give up danceafterward. On the contrary, she treated her recovery time as the opportunity tobecome even a better dancer. And she proved that in the end when in 2015 shebecame the first African American prima ballerina ever for the American BalletTheatre.
I'm sure the story I shared above answers this question quite well. However, to summarize, grit is vital because it's a driver of achievement and success. Being naturally smart and talented are great, but to truly thrive, we need the ability to persevere. No-one's path to success is strewn with rose petals. We all encounter some setbacks or failures. It's the way we handle them that determines how successful we are in any given area of our lives. That's why without grit, talent may be nothing more than unmet potential.
So now you're probably thinking, can grit be learned?
Or if I already have some, can I boost it?
Even though the research on this subject is young and there is still much to be discovered, the answer is yes!
The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.
C. JoyBell C.
Developing a love of learning and continuous improvementwill challenge you to always look for new ways of doing things. As humans, weare wired to grow, and our brains have limitless potential. Nurturing thatpotential and using it for self-development will also lead to us influencingour outside world to grow with us.
You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.
Michelle Obama
Just like Misty Copeland treated her injury to become abetter dancer, we can also learn to treat setbacks, not as failures butopportunities to get better. And I get it, it's tough. That's why we sometimesneed support from others: our friends, family, community, or professionals. Andthere's no shame in this. No can do it all alone. The important part is to recognize the needand ask for it.
The need for support is the reason why I have started an on-line community Businesswomen with Passion 4 Life. My vision for it is to create a community for women where we can share our passions, collaborate, and grow together. Where we can support each other when we experience setbacks and have fun together at the same time!
I'd love for you to be part of this community :). Join now by clicking here!
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
Jim Rohn
Since the definition of grit above talks about long term goals and achieving them, building other habits that will help you do that makes the perseverance part easier. Here, I'm talking about anything that will allow you to be healthier, more creative, knowledgeable or disciplined, etc.
And if you need help with defining long-term goals for your business or career; or identifying and building new habits to help you achieve them, I'm always happy to help. Are you open-minded for a leadership accelerator session? Yes? Then click here to schedule it.
As shown above, having grit is a potent indicator of achieving success in life, in whatever way you define it. Grit is not only passion, but also perseverance to pursue and achieve your long-term goals. We also know that grit can be thought to children and definitely boosted in adults. And the best thing is that like with any habit, the more we practice grit, the more ingrained it becomes. I challenge you then to start today by identifying the ways you can do it in your life or business.
Before we conclude, if you are a Businesswoman With Passion 4 Life as a whole and would enjoy the support of other amazing ladies in doing it, join my online community today, by clicking here!
