Success is a Mindset and Behavior
This time of year, I feel a surge of anticipation and a touch of unease as the holiday-days fly by and the never-ending to-dos loom. Getting consumed by the constant busyness is draining for me.
I oftentimes forget that shiny objects are not as important as my purpose, my authenticity, and my commitments.
How do you want to finish 2023?
The Little Engine That Could is a much-loved children’s book. Even as an adult, I give it as a gift to recognize and celebrate a team member's ability to overcome in the face of adversity. It's a great holiday gift idea to share a special note of thanks and celebration on the inside of the book cover.
Words have the incredible power to inspire, encourage, and uplift. They can brighten someone's day and remind others of their worth and potential. Sometimes, powerful words are the most meaningful gift we can give others and ourselves.
You likely know the story: the overachieving little train is pressed into service to get the children’s toys over the mountain after bigger engines fail. Against everyone’s expectations, the Little Blue Engine overcomes challenges and succeeds using the thought, “I think I can...I think I can…I think I can.”
To build momentum and BELIEF.
The Little Engine was a finisher.
It’s not about how fast you get there, people’s opinions or expectations of you, the doubts that plague your own thoughts, or even the result.
Being a finisher is a mindset and behavior.
A finisher doesn’t get distracted (when they do, they see it and reset).
A finisher is not swayed by new shiny objects.
A finisher is resourceful.
A finisher acts, audits, and adapts to get the job done.
A finisher understands that boring still gets things done.
A finisher doesn’t follow the trends or do what someone else does.
A finisher doesn’t let the hard of the day get in the way.
A finisher doesn’t give up.
Right, wrong, fail, succeed, slip, it doesn’t matter when you are committed to being a finisher.
More than consistency or discipline.
It’s about who you are.
What would seeing yourself as a finisher feel like to you? Saying: I’m a finisher.
When I asked a client what it felt like to be a finisher after a huge year-long project, she shared that she felt accomplished and proud.
I then asked her what's next. She said: I can do anything now.
She saw herself differently.
When you see yourself as a finisher, you build belief in yourself and who you want to become.
BELIEF in yourself.
BELIEF In the work you are doing.
BELIEF is the thermostat that regulates how you act in life.
When you build belief, you build confidence. In this episode of She Grabs the Mic, I had a powerful conversation with Cole Baker-Bagwell, where we talked about what confidence is and the tools to build it.
The Little Blue Engine finished and celebrated: I thought I could. I thought I could. I thought I could.
When you look back on this year, what will you have finished?
The Little Blue Engine brings gifts for all of the boys and girls, but the real gift is the gift he gave to himself.
Give yourself the gift of finishing the year out on your terms.
P.S. I love giving books, especially around the holidays. Books have the power to inspire, motivate, and connect people, making them a meaningful gift for personal growth.
On many lunch hours during my media career, you could find me in the self-help and business leadership aisles at Barnes & Noble. I wanted to lead with impact and grow my own self-awareness, and I was in constant pursuit of creating it. Each of us is responsible for our personal development.
When you take ownership of your growth, you become the driver of your own success.
Part of my growth plan each year comes by way of the books I read. Here are a few of my favorites, including mine, which I would recommend as great gifts this year and great reads for you.
Here are links to the books in order of appearance from the top down.
It’s not how good you are, It's How Good You Want to Be, Paul Arden is written by an advertising executive and has so many golden nuggets.
Playing Big, Tara Mohr is one of the first books I read during my reinvention after my media days. I read it once a year to remind me that bigger is available to me each year.
Leading with Soul, An Uncommon Journey of Spirit, Lee G. Boman, Terrence E. Deal is a wonderful parable of a man's personal journey of leadership and his quest for deeper meaning to a more fulfilling work experience.
Lighter Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future, Yung Pueblo beautifully writes about learning how to regulate your emotions, healing, and living a life on purpose.
For Success Sake! Simple Steps to Extraordinary Possibility in Leadership and Life, Christina Langdon. Yes, it is selfish of me to include my own book, but truthfully, at a moment this year when I was feeling lost, I reread my own book to help me reset with the tools and exercises.
Peak, How Great Companies Get Their Mojo from Maslow, Chip Conley, writes about defining your purpose and leading to it every day. Chip is now the founder of the Modern Elder Academy for people wanting to rewrite their second half of life.
Unbound: A Woman’s Guide to Power, Kasia Urbaniak, is an unbelievable story of her experience as a dominatrix, her training to become a Taoist nun, and her teachings on expanding influence, and how to stand in your power, find your voice, and use it well.
Perfect Pitch, the Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business, Jon Steel, a 'pitch coach', shares his pitching secrets that win hearts, minds, and new business.
Roar!: A Collection of Mighty Women proudly adorns my coffee table to inspire me of the women who have come before me and remind me that anything is possible. It makes a great holiday gift to remind other women of their power!
Thank you for reading Sunday Sunshine. I look forward to simple steps for extraordinary possibilities in leadership and life. Please share this with someone you know who may benefit from the message.
If you are considering working with a High-Performance Success Coach or want to know more about the components of a coaching engagement, let’s get on a coaching call. As a business coach for women entrepreneurs, Executives, and Teams, my proven engagement method is highly results driven.
The question I get most frequently is, ‘What results can I achieve?’ Here’s what one client shared:
“Coaching is by far the most ROI-positive investment you can make in yourself. Do it! Even if you go in with a specific issue or question, you will be amazed by how the process can change your thinking about who you are, your skills, and where you want to go.”
You can wait for life to no longer be hard. If you are a dreamer and a doer, let’s have a conversation.
High-performance success coaching and business coaching, and life coaching combined for massive value and impact on your life and business.
