Who Will I Have to Become?

Last week, Thirty One announced their 2019 Leadership Incentive Trip – Maui!  Yup, Hawaii and a whole year to earn it!

For me, this is a HUGE goal I really want to accomplish. I’ve never been to Hawaii and it is on my bucket list PLUS this is a spot hubby and I talked about going some time.  I had to laugh when they announced it because it brought back a memory of when Edythe and Elsie (my aunts) wanted to take my grandparents to Hawaii.  My grandfather’s response “If I can’t drive and take the camper, I’m not going”.  Okay, so I squirreled for a minute….

Do you have a dream you can’t stop thinking about – a dream you wholeheartedly want and sometimes even wonder how you can possibly achieve it?   Maybe it is to have your own business.  Or be debt free. Or quit your job and travel.  Whatever it is, it is actually possible if you set the groundwork to accomplish it….

There is a powerful question which can help you.   When I heard it, it hit me like a 2×4 because I knew there are habits and thinking patterns I would need to change in order to get to my vision.

The question is this:

Who would you have to become in order to accomplish your biggest goal?

The truth is the thing which holds us back is usually us. We need to get out of our own way by being willing to make changes, face fears and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  I started a new 8-week program called Fit Within which is helping me to get out of my own way.  I’m only on week 2 and it has really brought some of these things to light…

When challenges arise, we either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.  A fixed mindset believes your talents and intelligence are set. A growth mindset believes where you are today is just the beginning, and you have far more capacity for growth and learning than you realize.  Which one do you have?

When was the last time you said  “I’m just not good at ________ (fill in the blank)”?  The problem with thinking like this is there are challenges which require you to stretch to places which feel uncomfortable to achieve the desired goal.

When you feel like you aren’t good at something, do you put forth a little bit more effort than you have in the past or do you just give up?  With age, comes greater expectations, especially what we expect from ourselves and as a result some things may not come as easy, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it.  You might have to change your approach and your mindset.  You may have to become a person who puts forth more effort when things are more difficult.

When we come up against a challenge, we must sometimes accept there are things which worked in the past which won’t work now.  OUCH!  We can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results.

What got you to this point, won’t necessarily get you to the next point. Who will you have to become in order to accomplish the goal you really want to accomplish? And are you willing to do it? That’s really the ultimate question.  Here are some things to think about as you are working on the person you will need to become…..

• What’s the shift you have to make?
• What steps would you have to put in place?
• What would you have to change in your environment?
• Who might you have to change in your environment?

These are all choices you get to make.  Believe it or not, if you make them and remain consistent, you will become the kind of person who can accomplish ANY goal you truly want.

I know working on “inside stuff” is tough.  At the ripe old age of 60, I am still working on inner stuff and squashing those gremlins BUT it is so worth it,

I BELIEVE you can do it.

I challenge you to be willing to stretch in an area where you previously limited yourself.  I want to you to allow yourself to become the kind of person who can accomplish your biggest goal.  Share you BIG goal with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Will You Shift Your Thinking to Change Your Life?

Life has a way of throwing us curve balls.  One minute all is wonderful and the next we are slammed with challenges which can send us into a black hole.  On this Monday morning, how will you see the world?

Will you be ready to charge into the week or are you already thinking how behind you are or how bad it will be?  You have a choice and what you decide can make the difference in a good week versus a bad week.

I love how my Thursday morning Weight Watcher meeting messages tend to relate to my everyday life.  The topic of “shift your thinking” hit me hard.  Why?  I am continuously guilty of the failing prey to the negative inner gremlins.  I talk a good game but I have moments too when those curve balls send me down the dark path of doom and gloom

So, on this Monday morning when I am headed home from an amazing visit with my daughter in North Carolina – I am fighting the inner gremlins.  I have decided to slam the door on them.  Yes, I may have eaten (and drank) more than normal.  Yes, I may have gained a little weight (or not).  Yes, I may have taken the focus off my business for a little bit.  BUT instead of thinking of the negatives of the trip, I will focus on the positives.  I got to spend an awesome 5 days with my daughter so we could reconnect.  I got to meet new people.  I got to clear my head and get creative in my business.  I got to rest.  All positives I will focus on as I head home.

Your mindset is not set in stone.  Think about how many times during the day you switch from a positive to a negative mindset.  Believe it or not, we do it ALOT!  There are two areas in our lives we need to switch from a “fixed” mindset to a “growth” mindset – our weight loss journey and our business.  What’s the difference in the two mindsets?

A growth mindset lets us see new experiences and challenges as a chance to grow – to learn, to improve and benefit.  I like to think of this a the positive inner gremlins beating the negative ones.

A fixed mindset is when we are not open to new things.  We tend to except things as they are.  Negative thoughts stick in our brains and setbacks seem like mountains we are unable to climb.  As a result, we continue to do the same thing expecting different results.

When we are ready to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, we unleash positive powerful changes.  The weight starts to come off, your business starts to grow.  We develop skills which will help us to not only make healthier decisions but will also help us to succeed in life!  Our growth mindset allows us to reflect on our slips or mistakes and learn from them while moving forward.

Why do I relate the two – weightless and growing your business?  Because  the journey for me has been linked to the same negative inner gremlins.  If I am feeling bad in one area of my life, the other seems to suffer as a result.

So, how do we shift to a growth mindset?  We need to stomp to the inner gremlins and here is a way to do it:

Fixed Mindset:  “I knew I wouldn’t be able to do this (lose weight or make money in my business).  It’s so hard!  I don’t think I can keep going.”  See the negative inner gremlins feeding and growing stronger.

Reality Check:  “This is a challenge and I’m not sure how long I can keep going, but I won’t ever know if I stop now”.  This is where we make the conscious decision to try.  To give it one more day/week/month to eat healthy.  To give the business one more month to see if I can make money.

Growth Mindset:  “This challenge has been tough but if I continue to make small changes and try to keep going, I know I can do it”  Focus on the accomplishments – big or small.

I challenge you to start this week with a growth mindset, will you accept the challenge.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Things Successful Women Do Differently

I have had an “AHA” moment I wanted to share with you.  I don’t know about you but FEAR and DOUBT tend to hit me this time of the month.  No, it isn’t “my time” of the month.  As the end of the month draw nears, some of us in direct sales tend to worry.  Maybe our numbers aren’t where we want them to be.  We begin to focus on all of the “wrong things” instead of seeking out the positives.  Let’s see a show of hands for those in direct sales who feel the same way…

Do you know why two women, similar in background and talent, yet one excels while the other seems to do just alright? Or have you wondered what the difference was between average results and spectacular ones for these same women?

On the surface, it doesn’t make sense, right?  It is only when we dig a little deeper – and listen to the differences in how they speak and think – you’ll find the clues to the difference.

Every year, Thirty One offers a Leadership Incentive Trip.  Every year, I TALK about earning it.  I say I am working towards the goal yet fear and doubt always creep in.  I was working my business like a hobby, not real sure it could or would be a success.  As a result, the results I got were average.  This year, I set the same goal.  Almost halfway through and I was having doubts.  Then I got a “SMACK” on the head from God.  I looked at my goal sheet and started to figure out what I needed to earn the trip and WHAM… it from doubtful to doable.  Why?  Because I thought differently.

I read an article and here are the three big differences:

1. Successful woman explain their successes and failures in a distinct and empowering way.

They attribute their successes to personal traits and see them as repeatable. They attribute failure to changeable factors and see them as isolated incidents.

This quote was an eye opener for me.  I need to look at today’s failures as lessons on the road to future successes instead of personal flaws. An optimistic person predicts success, and explains successes by attributing it to their own efforts.  They believe it will spill over into more success in other areas of their life.  A pessimistic person tends to explain success as luck, seeing it as an isolated incident which may not happen again.  Which kind of person are you?

2. Successful women don’t underestimate themselves.

Where would you rate your worth right now, on a scale of 1 – 10?  With 10 being the highest.  On any given day, I would rate myself as a 5 or below.  Research shows most women underestimate themselves and their worth.  I am sure I am not alone.  Chances are we believe we aren’t ready for opportunities which we are probably qualified for.  When was the last time you negotiated for your raise or spoke up with your own great idea or opinion?

Successful women recognize their potential is greater than they know.  As a result,  they are willing to risk failure to go for it.  We need to adopt a “growth mindset,” where your current success is just a starting point.  We stay stuck because of a “fixed mindset” where we believe our talent and intelligence are set.  Which one do you have?  We need to adopt a growth mindset so our current talent and intelligence can expand.  Don’t be afraid of opportunities BUT allow yourself to learn and grow into potential the opportunity offers.

3. Successful women consider happiness a success strategy.

This one is HUGE.  Successful women don’t pursue success to become happy, they realize happiness causes success. They pursue what brings them joy, knowing the rewards will follow. Consistency and patience are part of this – definitely not a strong point for me BUT I am working on changing…. what about you?

Research shows happier people are more likely to get promotions and raises, take action towards their goals, have stronger relationships, fight illnesses better and even live longer. Start with happiness and success will follow.

If you are underestimating yourself – STOP!  You are capable of far more than you know.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Fixed or Growth Mindset

Did you know that acccording to Stanford University Professor Carol Dweck, who wrote the book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, a person can be one of two very distinct mindset patterns. Either you’re walking around with a fixed mindset or a growth mindset.

Hmmm… now you know that I am thinking, right?  I mean which one am I and is that the reason that I feel stuck sometimes.  Admit it, you are thinking the same thing, right?  We can all agree that our belief system is critical for success – you have to believe in yourself in order to succeed, right?

Do you have the traits of a person with a fixed mindset?  Do you believe that traits are static, unable to be changed and that you’re born with a certain level of intelligence, natural talents and abilities?  Do you believe that you can’t improve on those qualities?  Do you avoid doing anything that is a challenge because you believe that you are not naturally good at it, so why bother?  Guess what, you have a fixed mindset.

Now, what about the traits of a person with a growth mindset.  Do you believe that you can learn a skill or trait?  Do you believe that intelligence can always be improved?  Can your talents be learned and refined?  Do you invite challenges, obstacles and feedback because you love growth?  You guessed it – you have a growth mindset and will reach a different level of success then those with a fixed mindset.

If you fit the bill of a “fixed mindset”, then here are a few ways for you to foster a “growth mindset”

1. Know the difference. Seems simple, but just knowing the difference between the fixed and growth mindset will enable you to make a shift in your belief about the world and your capabilities.
2. Monitor your inner dialogue. We all have a running inner dialogue that never rests. Be sure you become aware of what those voices are saying to you and about you.
3. Recognize you do have a choice. You have a choice in how you approach the world and your belief systems. When you realize you can change, you begin to see areas where you can make the necessary tweaks to get on the path to success.
4. Talk back to your fixed mindset regularly. Sometimes you just need to give your fixed mindset a piece of your mind. By talking back to your fixed mindset with statements like “This can be learned” or “I can change this” or “I know this challenge or obstacle will prove useful and I can learn from it” you will help reprogram how you approach yourself, your relationships, your business and how you engage with the world.

Share with us which mindset you are – fixed or growth.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!