Career Series No 3 - "Its Personal"

March is here, S.H.E. Suite Friends!

I had a fascinating talk last week with a fellow femalpreneur about the intrinsic values and behaviors that women bring to business. It got me thinking... How many of us are truly living our values across both our personal and professional lives?

Its strange how when you have something on your mind, the universe often puts it in front of you in myriad ways. We will be discussing this exact topic this month at our S.H.E. Suite networking night, as well as Tips on Confidence, Values-Based Business Strategy, and more! 

I hope you'll join us! Whether you're a corporate career woman, a solo-preneur, or anything in between, I  know that women have the power to lift other women up, and this is going to be a month to remember.

XOXO,
Kaitlyn

Tips on Building Confidence:

A journey of ​self-awareness, mindfulness and action
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​Talent and experience get you in the door. But a healthy dose of confidence distinguishes top-performing female professionals. 

1. Fear “what if” more than failure.
No one wants to fail. If the fear of hearing “no” is holding you back, consider the alternative: a lifetime of regret for not having had the courage to ask for the business, referral, advice or even a partnership.

2. Stand powerfully (and authoritatively) in your brilliance. Do you say yes when you mean no? Have you ever made a suggestion or asked a question when a declarative statement was in order? Will you sometimes offer generalities when specificity is needed? If so, it’s time to be more thoughtful and intentional during your interactions with others. Whether you’re communicating by phone, email or in person, take a few minutes to think through your desired outcome. 

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Respond accordingly. Value quality over quantity. Make peace with the fact that you can’t always give every competing priority the time that you’d like to. Give family, clients, and yourself the gift of being in the moment, instead. Stop overscheduling yourself. Multitasking is a myth that doesn’t work.
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3. Practice mindfulness. Check in with yourself, mentally and emotionally, throughout the day. Replace anxiety about a client meeting or self-doubt when something doesn't go as expected with an affirmation, meditation, exercise, or whatever calms you. Make a pact with one or two professional acquaintances. Send inspiring text messages to each other regularly.

4. Celebrate little victories. A string of small wins is sometimes all you need to break through a major hurdle. Save positive feedback from happy clients. Look through your “brag folder” whenever you need a little encouragement.

5. Dress, speak and behave like the professional you aspire to be. Designer and businesswoman Coco Chanel said it best, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”