Success comes and goes, and if you don’t have a strong sense of self you won’t be able to deal with failures and successes as they happen. That’s the truth! To be successful you need to be comfortable dealing with conflict, hearing criticisms, leading people and being vulnerable. It can seem like a lot to ask of a person.
That’s why success starts with a little bit of self-help. Think about Steve Jobs, he was super successful and his personality is so strong that people are still turning to his advice on how to lead. So, are you ready to start your journey? Ask yourself these questions and you’ll be on the right path!
1. Who am I when I’m at my best?
When we’re asked who we are, we often revert to the titles we’ve given ourselves. Every self-help book picks up on this, it’s an easy way to gloss over who we really are. So for example, we’ll call ourselves ‘a writer’ or ‘a mother’ instead of thinking about who we really are. In order to be successful you should try to find out who you are when all these titles are stripped away. How would you describe yourself?
When you’re at your best, on top of the world, getting shit done – who are you? Are you kind and compassionate, strong and dominant, funny and charming? Figure it out and put it down on paper. It’s also a good idea to write down how you feel when you’re at your best and what you’re doing, too.
2. What is my vision?
Your vision for 2017 will influence your life. To be successful you need to see the bigger picture, which is why creating a vision board is such a good idea! Put pen to paper and figure out what your large goal is. We recommend creating a yearly vision board, for every month add photos to create a feeling and keep you on track.
If you have a large goal to achieve, spend some time visualizing it. It’s not going to happen overnight.
3. Where can I start?
Visualizing is great, but you also need to think of an actionable starting point. When are you going to start working towards your goals and what resources do you need to help you? Whether it’s getting that dream job, getting fit and healthy or starting a business, every goal needs a starting day.
Don’t put it off searching for the perfect time, figure out what you need to do and go for it.
4. What are my weaknesses?
It’s always tough to be critical of yourself. Think back over the year, what did you fail at? What did other people notice about you? How can you change it? If there are some weaknesses you know that you’ll struggle to overcome, how can you play to them? Can you make your weakness into a strength? Can you work on your weaknesses in some way?
5. What is my ideal day?
Write down your ideal day and figure out if there’s something missing from the way you’re living now. Be realistic, an ideal day and a fantasy day are two different things. Although we’re sure one day we’ll all be lying by a pool being fed grapes, it’s best to focus on the best version of your days as they are. Do you need to look for a new job? Get up earlier? Try to live every day as if it was your best day ever.
6. What is my definition of success?
This is difficult because success looks different to everybody. So how do you define success? Do the people you admire have something in common? Are you envious of colleagues with a perfect work/life balance? Remember that you come first and everything else comes after. Try to define it in one sentence and keep that sentence with you every day. Whether you memorize it or put it in your purse, it’ll serve as a reminder of what success really means to you.
The sold-out Career Girl Academy is back at the coolest spot in London, and this time you’ll learn how to set yourself up for success and train your brain to have the best year ever! Reserve a guaranteed place when you book your tickets to the event on Sunday 29 January here.
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