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Category: Inspiration

You belong in this room.

Don’t sell yourself short.

You aren’t to be ordered about. You are here as a professional.

Everyone else is as uncertain as you are. They may even be more afraid. Yet they’ve made the decision to not let any of this get in their way. They’ve made the choice to show up and be present, regardless of insecurity and fear.

You have a choice to make.

The first few times might be a show. You may have to talk yourself into it. Once you’re there, you may whisper hurtful names to yourself — pretender, phony, fake. Ignore that voice. Slowly, gradually, that whisper will fade and be replaced with an unmistakeable assertion. A knowing, a conviction, a sense of belonging that will lead you to places you had never before considered.

Tolerate discomfort.

The journey often starts with a moment of anxiety, terror, self doubt, even despair. It’s temporary. In time, you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come. The decision to put yourself in the game will become easier, and the unknown will appear less of a threat.

Accept the invitation.

Claim your space. Believe that you can hold your own. Ask questions that can’t be avoided. Demonstrate why you must be reckoned with.

You must show up.

If you’re not in the room, we can’t listen, we can’t watch your magic, and you won’t get any better. Tell us — show us — why should we stop here, with you, and not continue on.

Lead by example

Whether a small business or large corporation, the head must act in a forthright, admirable way for the chain of command to follow suit. Same applies to smaller groups of people: the leader sets the tone for what is acceptable and what is not, setting the pace for others to follow.

By pushing yourself to be the very best you can be, you inspire those around you, build trust within your team, and encourage others to lead principled lives.

Great leadership shouldn’t be difficult to come by. Neither should integrity.

Scare yourself

The moment at take off, when you’re unsure of what lies ahead.

That one decision that could branch into 15,000 possibilities.

That YES! that sets your life on an entirely new path.

The uncertainty that comes from doing something different.

The quickening of your heart as you step into the unknown.

When was the last time you scared yourself? Tell me @redheadlefthand.

Choose your category

Some people live on the edge of what’s possible. They defy expectations and buck norms.
Some people follow what has come before. They do what they are told and stay in line.
Some people wander aimlessly. They dream about “what if” and believe success finds the lucky. They attribute greatness to others, failing to see it in themselves.
The difference lies in the acknowledgement of your worth, the realization of your strengths, confidence in your unique talents (for nobody does it quite like you), and the conversion of belief into action.

Pick yours.

7 objections to overcome

  1. You’re not qualified.
  2. You don’t have the experience.
  3. You’re not connected.
  4. You haven’t done this before.
  5. This will require all of your time.
  6. You don’t have the resources.
  7. It’s out of your league.

You’ll hear all sorts of objections. You get to decide if you’re going to listen.

Develop responses you can quickly and easily remember. You’ll need rebuttals you can use for yourself and for the world.