I was just fresh from university, sat in a waiting room nervously anticipating my first ever interview. There was ping from the elevator and The Head of Burberry walked into the room like she commanded it. She was an eccentric woman, in all the ways that make someone fashionable and stylish. Here was a successful woman, who oozed confidence and stole the attention from the whole room. Including me. From head-to-toe, she was the woman I pictured myself to be.
I don’t think there was anyone in the room, who wouldn’t remember that woman that day. Her suit, obviously Burberry, was worn with confidence, almost like it was the source of her power. But it wasn’t only her appearance that was intoxicating, it was who she was as a person. She was an incredibly smart woman, who obviously invested in her education as well as her career.
And every other successful woman I’ve interviewed since then seem to share this same innate quality. They all share the not-so-secret knowledge that they need to invest in certain things and carry themselves a certain way that fit alongside the lifestyle of success. Acquiring and attaining these characteristics won’t buy you success. But it will give you the confidence to be the woman you dream to be and show you that it’s not someone you need to transform into, but someone you’ve been all along. So, become the best version of yourself with these 15 things to invest in:
1. Their Education
Sheryl Sandberg has openly admitted that one piece of advice she would tell her twenty-year-old self would be to create an 18-month learning plan. Alongside your goals, you need to plan out exactly what you want to learn over that period and improve on the things that scare you the most. Because the successful woman knows that in order to succeed she needs to commit herself to education.
More importantly, she knows that it doesn’t finish when University does – the process of learning does not stop there. It’s up to you to further your education and build your knowledge. It’s a choice and it’s a choice you should make for yourself every day. Your day should consist of at least one hour of personal development. And this can be as easy as signing up to Skillshare and learning a new skill in an hour.
2. The tools they need to get things done
Oprah famously keeps many journals to get her through, she keeps a health and wellness journal to track her growth so she can look back on it and reflect. But it’s not only her, no successful career woman can get through any day without her planner. It’s her right-hand man and it goes wherever she does.
I, for one know, that I feel anxious whenever I’m too far away from mine. I wear it as a badge of honor. My favorite is the Getting Things Done Planner as it allows me to keep track of all the niggly things I’m known to forget! And it’s not just about keeping up with a to-do list. You need one for every area, finance, fitness, business plans. My newest favorite right now is the Fit Is The Sh*t Planner, which is helping me to look after my fitness levels.
3. Their wellbeing
Gwyneth Paltrow is a huge wellness advocate and has even built a brand around it – and there’s no wonder she looks so good. But it’s not only her on that’s on a wellness mission, Arianna Huffington also boasts that yoga is the best thing she can do to achieve and maintain balance in her life.
Because if you look after your body, in turn, it will look after you. It’s your wellbeing that will help you become successful, it goes hand in hand! Without it, you’ll struggle, but with it, you’ll be bigger and better. This concerns your health, what you eat and put into your body (make sure to only eat for energy) and how you switch off at the end of the day.
5. Their self-development
Growth should be one of your top goals always. And it’s something you need to always remind yourself to do. What makes you different from six months ago? If you reply with nothing then it means you’re not progressing. Finding the time can be difficult, but that’s where you need to make the time because it will only help you in your career.
Read and buy books you usually wouldn’t, expand your horizons, attend those classes you never get around to – just do it. Make a list of the areas of your life you want to progress in and then come up with a plan that will help make this happen.
