I always try to read something to help me set my mindset before consuming news or social media. (That's how we do it here, mindset first!)

So I was reading a personal development book this morning, and the section I'm in is addressing our insecurities and worries about the future rather than actually living in the present. There are so many good quotes from this book, you guys. But the quote that really hit me was specifically about work and the idea of being so focused on goals and making money and not actually living.

We can get so good at making the money and not really ever learn how to enjoy what we're working for. Just because your bills are paid and you've got a good amount in your savings doesn't mean you're actually enjoying the fruits of all your hard work. You have to make time to actually enjoy all the work.

If you're at a really good spot financially and yet making more money just to make more without intentionally setting apart time to...

Starting a new job can be exciting: the pay, the experience, the new coworkers you'll become friends with...

But it can also be stressful and nerve-wracking for a lot of people. In fact, if you're anything like me, you're familiar with your own self-critic. You know... that thought or inner voice that tells you you're a failure or even an imposter. If you give that voice any attention, it can grow and grow until you really begin to believe it. 

So what can you do to make sure you succeed and keep the right mindset when stepping into that new role or even starting your own business?

Figure out what is expected of you

There is nothing worse than jumping into something new and not knowing what is expected of you because two things can happen.

1. You won't deliver to the best of your abilities because you don't know what those expectations are. 
2. You are going to get frustrated and start second-guessing yourself. If you don't know what's expected of you then...

If you don’t already know, I help women design a career path (and life) that they actually enjoy. What’s that mean? Well, there is your current situation, what you actually want, and the action steps it takes to get there.

With every woman I coach, the very first thing we work on is getting clear on what they really want to do. There are three key elements to figuring this out. 

1. What do you enjoy?

This first step is figuring out what you actually like, if you don’t already know. What are your dreams, your goals, your aspirations, and what do you like doing?

This ties into your vision for life and your future. So don’t limit yourself, but take some time to think about what actually brings YOU joy and excitement. What are the activities you enjoy? 

2. Who are you?

The next question we need to answer is, Who are YOU? Don’t forget to filter this through the first element of this, and make sure this really about you, and not expectations or...

You know what you want

You have an idea big or small, whether it's a career change, starting a business, or simply doing something new/different. But you’re paralyzed by the “what if” and figuring out “all the things” before actually taking any steps forward.

 A lot of times we look for that validation, that permission for someone else to say, “That's a good idea. You should do that.”

So, if you're looking for that, I am here to tell you, yes it is a good idea. (But you don't need validation/permission from me.)

Just pause

Pause and take a break. Crazy things happen when you do this.

You get more clarity on your ideas when you slow down. More clarity and less overthinking leads to more confidence. This also helps you stop thinking about how everyone else is doing things, their ideas, and truly give you space to focus on, and stop doubting, yourself and your ideas. 

You do not need all of the answers right away....

There it is again... that fear of “what if”. Or worse, that voice in your head that’s telling you you can’t do it and you shouldn’t even have the role you’re currently in.

This, my friends, is what we call imposter syndrome. It’s fear at its finest and it’s what’s holding you back from that next big goal.

The Problem

Do you find yourself listening to these voices? Do you feel paralyzed by doubt and perfectionism? No matter who you are, I’m betting that you’ve experienced this at least a handful of times in your life, if not more. 

Here’s a secret… EVERYBODY experiences these fears and doubts. It’s pretty normal. You hit a point and you're like, What if this isn't meant to be? This is when imposter syndrome kicks in and you start second-guessing everything that got you here. 

Why It Happens

This happens whenever we begin to define our worth by our title or whatever goal we’re trying...

You might be feeling frustrated or just not as satisfied with your career right now. One reason many of us feel this way is because of our own lack of confidence at work.

The Problem

So if you are feeling frustrated or lacking confidence, ask yourself, are you trying to do all of the things? Are you too afraid to admit or delegate something that you feel like you should know how to do, even though that pressure is coming from no one else but you?

Think about it this way. If you go to a doctor, you want to have a specialist treat you for a certain problem, right? You're not going to go to someone that's just like, yeah, I can kind of sort of treat that. I've done it once in the past. No!

If you really want that confidence there needs to be a mindset shift from thinking that you need to be able to do everything anyone asks you to or that you need to be able to do all the things with no help at all. That’s not going to get you the praise you want.

What You Should Do About...