It’s Time to Positively Mind Your Own Business (If You Want to Find the Key to Success)
Now more than ever, it’s time to positively mind your own business – with emphasis on the positive mindset part.
This is an overdue blog post, but I have been extremely reluctant and hesitant to post it because, honestly, it is pretty blunt.
So here I am just going to come out and say it from the start: Many of us do not recognize that our attitude or mindset can be both directly and indirectly correlated with the success of our career.
And, while everyone has different definitions of success, one thing we can all agree on is that no one likes to be around a Negative Nancy or a Complaining Sally! #preach
The one topic that is somewhat tricky to teach, advise, and coach professionals on is it is not just about WHAT you say during an interview or while in your workplace, it’s about HOW you say it.
Your tone, your body language, and your attitude plays a huge part in your reputation and how you conduct your career.
This is precisely why I want every. single. person. reading this to ask yourself: “Am I sabotaging myself and my career with a Negative Nancy (or self-doubting) mindset?”
***I am going to interject quickly with this: if you are feeling negative, self-doubtful, or in a downward spiral, SEEK HELP. I’ve been there, and I will be the first to admit seeking help from your support system or a mental health professional is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of pure strength. #Imwithyou
It is time to quit self-sabotaging ourselves
Here is a bold statement: It is 100% possible for someone to pre-emptively destroy their chances at success with a negative mindset. The reason why I can say this is because I have seen and witnessed this NUMEROUS times.
Whether it’s not showing up as your best self, being negative at a networking event, downplaying your skills at an interview, or generally complaining about work (all of the time)… it’s time to STOP negatively minding your own business and START positively minding your own business.
Finding success in your career, whether it’s the one you’re already in or a dream career you’re actively pursuing, will require you to completely readjust your way of thinking to frame your next moves in a positive and motivating light.
In other words, you’ll need to stop being biased - like when you tell yourself: “I’m not good enough for this job” or “This job is killing me and I am stuck in this career forever” or “There are absolutely no other jobs in the entire world and I am so miserable.”
Instead, you should be taking small steps, at every opportunity you get, to start acknowledging things for the way they are: you’re good at what you do, you completely deserve that dream job, you do have permission to be 100% yourself, there are plenty of opportunities for me, and you do have a lot to add to your unique industry.
FINDING THE “RIGHT” MINDSET
As you all know, #adulting can be DIFFICULT.
Speaking on behalf of every working professional out there: figuring out how you’re going to pay for your kid's college and pay off your mortgage, deal with stress from work, job hunt, and maintain a personal life can be extremely difficult to navigate.
However, in order to be successful, you’ll need to adopt the right mindset to help you get through each of those circumstances.
Here’s the thing, though: the “right” mindset that you need to achieve success in your life requires a consistent, dedicated, and committed effort.
A totally zen mindset may work in some cases, but you also need to know when to shift gears and stand up for what you believe in. In other circumstances, you may need to adopt an “I’m the Best” mindset to ace the interview or other times when you’ll need to take a back seat while you support others.
Whatever the situation, the “right” mindset will be all about you being fully present and engaged in each unique experience.
You’ll need to be focused and committed on your own priorities, your own goals, and your own mission. You’ll need to LEAN INTO the situation rather than running from it or getting pushed into the deep end.
Think about it this way:
When you practice yoga, you need to be fully present and mindful of your body.
When you’re being interviewed, you need to be present and show up as your best self – that means knowing and acting like you are destined for this job and that you’re the BEST person for it.
When you’re with your kids, you should aim to be fully engaged with your family rather than being bogged down by work or scrolling aimlessly on your phone.
As you can see, there are different requirements for each of those situations. However, your goals should guide you toward the right mindset and action, whether that means you’re pursuing more relaxation, the perfect job, more flexibility and financial freedom, or new memories with your family.
WHAT’S HOLDING YOU BACK FROM FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE CONTROL?
I’m a true believer that many of us are natural skeptics, and being skeptical about new things can be a good sign (inset my husband here!)!
However, if you are someone who has a negative mindset and is self-sabotaging your success, you’ll need to tackle why you’re like that before you try to make a big transition in your career.
The reason why I say this is because I work with clients who do not land their dream roles simply because they lack confidence. Nothing else. Their resumes are perfect, they get along with colleagues, they have excellent reviews from their bosses, but when it comes to self-confidence they do not give themselves the credit they deserve.
When you aren’t operating as your best self, negative thinking and doubt could steadily creep in and break down your opportunities.
How many stories of accomplishment, or perseverance, or determination are you not able to share because you are limiting yourself? Maybe you’re limiting yourself to only what you know you can to do, by refusing to try new things, by being afraid of failing, or maybe you do not believe you’re ready for change…
No matter what it is, you deserve to give yourself a shot at success.
So think hard about where your negative thoughts are stemming from and try to take an unbiased look at your skills. Practice the art of the humble brag and create a story about yourself that you can confidently share whether you’re interviewing or networking.
You can even try out the “Superman Pose” to give yourself a boost. You can practice your elevator pitch. You can work with a professional to land that dream job.
USING A POSITIVE MINDSET TO FIND SUCCESS
Really, it comes down to this: if you want to grow into new areas of your life or your business get comfortable being uncomfortable. You will need to do the things that make you feel inspired as well as slightly awkward or nervous, like starting that new project or speaking in front of a group of your colleagues.
That is just the simple truth. Your positive mindset is a ticket to set you into career freedom.
Any aspect of your life that you want to change CAN be changed.
You can see results and reach all of your goals, but it first requires transforming the way you think.
Once you’re able to confidently own who you are as a professional and make choices that reinforce your goals and values, you’ll find that there are many more open doors than there are closed ones!
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