3 Dangerous Confidence Thieves

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”

~Pablo Picasso

Confidence takes practice.  It sounds strange doesn’t it?  It’s call the confidence-competency loop.  The more you practice the more your confidence grows, and the more this will shine through into the exterior world.

Picasso is one of the most famous and successful artist.  Did you know that throughout his career, he created more than 20,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics? Despite the staggering number of pieces he created and his incredible talent he only has a handful of famous paintings.  

Dyson’s breakthrough came after 15 years and 5,127 prototypes. “Designing something that works well requires careful thought and precise measures, then relentless testing and prototyping …it takes time” - Dyson.

 there are also a number of other things that can steal your confidence.

1. Impatience  

Perhaps the biggest thing that is holding you back right now is your impatience.  How many things have you given up because you weren’t seeing the result you immediately expected?  In our society today we want immediate gratification and we all love our instant downloads and our Amazon Prime accounts but its unrealistic to think that you will achieve overnight success. 

I know.  This is super hard to digest when it seems like every advertisement you see is about how to make thousands of dollars in 5 minutes! Apologies to repeat this, but overnight success is extremely rare.

2. Fear

The fear of putting yourself out there into the big wide world can be so big you feel like your only option is to put the brakes on your project.  The trick is to move away from the hypercritical state of self-doubt and push your project forwards.  Past failures do not dictate your future, they create your future.  

So have the courage to take action despite the uncertainty.  

3. Helplessness

Are you are feeling insecure and have low self worth?  Ouch, I know this one well and boy oh boy does it hurt. 

My self worth used to be so low, I used to let people walk all over me!  And you know that you are in this way of thinking when you are leaning on excuses like “nothing ever goes my way” so I’m going to give up trying.  

You can break this pattern of behaviour by laughing at yourself a little.  Don’t take it so seriously. 

Shuffle the cards and find that something that brings in the energy.  Focus on the aspects of your life, business or career that energies you… then start collecting the success stories.

You are capable of remarkable things and you could never foretell and you will never discover without taking action.

If you've like this blog post, don't keep it all to yourself, share the love with your friends.  xxx

4 Questions That Will Transform Your Life

Hey Gorgeous,

How do you find and achieve what you really want from life?  Here are 4 really powerful questions to help you in seeking clarity and move you towards living a life abundant with joy.

1. What do I absolutely love doing in life?  

It’s within your love for music, exercise, horse riding, talking to friends …here you will find real joy, get excited and really feel alive.  Once you have figured out what your triggers are for bringing that joy into your life do one of those activities every single day.  

2. What would I do if I have a billion £GBP in my bank account?
I love this question.  It helps you think about your life without the limitations in place.  It might be that you want to buy a second home by the sea, travel the world, buy a wardrobe full of Channel. 

And then ask, what would you do with your time?  This is such a powerful question as it will really helps drawn you towards what you really want from this life.  Once you start dreaming and thinking without limitations you will really start to uncover your driving forces.

3. Who inspires me

List your greatest inspirations and the qualities that you admire about these people. Think about what really inspires you in this world. What you admire about others is also a quality that is deep within you. Know that you admire someone because they have similar qualities to you.

4. Do I truly believe in myself

If the answer to that question is yes!  Congratulations, I love that you are in this place.  But if you’re not, know that you are not alone.  Even the most externally confident people have self doubts and fears that they struggle to overcome.  

Asking yourself questions will change your life.  Self reflection is so powerful because if forces you to get out the mundane thought patterns that keep you stuck and pushes you towards thinking about a life of opportunity.  

Brendon Burchard asks how can you live more? Can you love more? Can you matter more?  Ask yourself these questions every single day.   Check in with yourself and make sure you’re living the best life you possibly can, so you can feel proud at the end of the week, month, year…life. Make sure you’re so proud of your answers to those questions and the legacy you will leave behind.

Join us at Home House on the 3rd March for your Transformation. If you've been thinking about making a transition in your life, you're looking to generate new ideas, you're ready to feel invigorated and live the best year yet this is for you!   Find out what you are really capable of.

Love you all and have a brilliant week!

Sarah

 
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5 Ways To Get Paid Doing What You Love

Hello gorgeous,

Have you ever wanted to get paid for doing what you love? I know, I know, silly question, of course you do!

Even if you don’t believe it just yet, you can make money out almost anything that you love doing.  But there are so many reasons why people don’t press ahead. We all plant these limiting ideas in our heads: I don’t have time, I don’t have the right skill set, I don’t have the money, the economy is not good right now… so, how do you over come this?

Start think about where the opportunities lie.  As an example there are going to be millions more people coming on line over the next few years and people are yearning for new information.  People are looking for wisdom and knowledge; you could offer huge value your chosen field.  You've got the ability to share your story with people in a way that helps them connect with you.  Millions of people are looking to improve their life and go to the next level. 

If you're an employee think about how can you add more value. How can you contribute more ideas, mentor more people, learn more, grow your network and take care of other people in your workplace?  Check in and be realistic, are you in the right place to build your career.

Trust in your own voice.  And get serious about what you're going to offer the world.  Here are 5 ways to help you get started:

1. Claim your topic and your expertise
What would you like to impart to the world?  You’ve got this far in the world so it's likely that you have been through your fair share of trails and tribulations. And I’m sure if you're determined to earn more and change your life, you’ve tried a few different things and you’ve had struggles.  Look back and see what you’ve learnt. 

People become influencers because they own it.  Even experts have to start somewhere so research, research and research some more.

2. Teach weekly and post out your content consistently

Start a blog, or post a video every week. And then post little clips and quotes, drawing people back to that blog.  You can put the content of you blog out to your audience for the remainder of the week.  You’ll soon have a library of exciting topics that you’ve covered.

3. Get in your customers head

Get to know you customer intimately, yes intimately!  Know what it will take for your people to double their revenues and grow their brand.  And go above and beyond don’t just solve their problem… solve their problem and then double it.  Just solving the problem isn't enough.  You’re teaching aspirations.  Think about their future and where they want to go. This is just as applicable wether you are running your own business and/or if you are an employee.

4. Create your offer or solution

Get into the detail of what is happening in the market place and how what is/is not working.  Really understand how you fit into the market place and how you can provide the most value.  You undoubtably have something truly unique to offer, so think outside the box about tailored solutions, it’s not the generic solution that is going to get you noticed.

5. Value yourself

Recognise that you’ve got something worth putting out into the world; it’s your job to get some support and get started! Where is your hunger and your passion? Even the biggest stars had to start somewhere; never let your small beginnings become small minded.

If you're still feeling a little lost, join us in Marylebone London at Home House on the 3rd March for your Transformation. If you've been thinking about making a transition in your life, you're looking to generate new ideas, you're ready to feel invigorated and live the best year yet, this is for you!   Find out what you are really capable of.

Love you all and have a brilliant week!

Sarah

Find Your Potential - My 6 Tips For Finding Your Potential

Hey gorgeous,

Do you know what you are really capable of?

You’re capable of doing anything you want in life just by making a conscious decision. If you’ve decided to not to settle for what you have right now (good choice!) then know that it’s possible to pursue an alternative direction in your life.   I used to tell myself that I couldn’t run my own dream business and be my own boss because I pay the mortgage, we need a monthly pay check in the household.  But, I’ve come to realise over time that these thoughts are just nonsense.  It’s these thoughts that keep us stuck and thinking small.  Ultimately we tell ourselves these stories because we’re scared; fearful of the unknown.  

Trust that your heart is bigger than your fears. When you face you’re fears head on and push through, this is where the real transformation happens.  When you push through those barriers and get connected to your why, the real magic begins to happen.  So how do I get the ball rolling?  You just need to start, start taking tiny steps  ...you have to start somewhere.

Here are my 6 tips to help you face your fears and start taking the action you need to take to become someone great:

1. Identify where you are emotionally

Guilty, overwhelmed, stuck, depressed, sad. You cannot change your life when you are stuck in these emotional states, there is not enough energy.  Once you identify the pattern and you see the truth, then you can decide how to fix the problem (whatever it is that is holding you back).

2. What is the antidote?  

If fear is controlling things, the antidote is courage.  In the present moment, being courageous may not necessarily feel good for you, but do it any way!  Try Mel Robbin’s 5-4-3-2-1 method.  Count backwards and then go for it;  push through your barrier. 

3. Treat your emotions like a muscle

 If you practice, you'll get stronger.   

4. People have patterns

What’s yours? Angry people get angry, sad people get sad.  This is where we naturally live in our “home” our comfortable place. We use triggers as events to get us “home”.  Identify the triggers and then find the antidote.  

5. Practice that emotion 

You can change your frustrations. If you work out what is causing your frustrations, then you can start to take action.  Be consistent in working towards making the change.  Remember your natural instinct will be to go back to your natural “home” but if you are aware of the trigger then keep practicing and soon a new muscle memory will kick in.

6. Condition the emotion

This is when your life changes, when your found new emotion is the new normal.  

Life is way to short to not truly follow your passions.  If you want to live your life with conviction and purpose, just start!  Success doesn’t come from nowhere.  Success starts from small beginnings and over time by taking consistent action becomes greatness.  “Greatness is not something predetermined, predestines or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control.  Greatness is always in the moment of the decision” - Jess Olson. 

Much love 

Sarah xxx

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What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?

Hi Gorgeous,

How is your week going so far? 

Before we get stuck into today’s topic I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you.  Thank you for your support, thank you for being you, and thank you for taking a few minutes of your precious day for connecting with me and reading my blog.  

Today I wanted to pop into your world and talk to you how together we can raise the profile of women in the world.  I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot of late.  In the UK it was 100 years ago that the 1918 Representation of the People Act was pasted by an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons.  It was an important milestone as it gave women of property over the age of 30 the right to vote.  This was a major success. 

We still have a huge way to go to make this a world of equality but it is really down to us to make the changes happen.   It’s a topic that I am fanatically passionate about because for WAY too long we women have held ourselves back.  We lower our own expectations of what we can achieve.

I take my role of helping women build their dreams in this complex world of ours very seriously.  I truly believe that every single one of us deserves to live an incredible life, full of abundance, happiness and joy for the world.

Let’s motivate and encourage each other, and foster a world where we care deeply for one another, where we care about the abundant opportunities that are available to each and everyone of us.

Personal motivation is an incredibly complex thing, molded by our internal fears but also strongly influenced by the parenting we receive, the peer group that surrounds us as we grow, the opportunities we seek and the connections we make.  

Click on the link and join us in the Fiercely Ambitious Entrepreneurs Facebook Group and surround yourself by other incredible likeminded women. 

Explore and find out what you are really capable of!

Much love

Sarah xxx

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Networking for Business Success

Stop collecting business cards and start making meaningful connections.

Love it or loath it, networking is so powerful for building a thriving business or climbing the corporate ladder.  Even when you’re a new Mum looking for some sanity, networking becomes a critical skill.  It surprises me that so often I hear other women saying that we are not good at networking, this is total rubbish!  It’s so often the ladies in the household that create the vital support networks for our families; it’s this network that becomes the life-line in difficult times.

Networking is not just about swapping business cards; you want to learn how to network for life, for endless value, build a business or to significantly enhance your career success.  I climbed the corporate ladder purely by having the right people in my network, and the strong foundations of my business exists today because of my network.

So, if you are looking to increase the quality and quantity of your best clients and/or you want to develop relationships with other incredible professionals you need to get yourself out there! 

The traditional idea of networking is to attend events complete with a room full of people just like you.  The problem with most networking events is that most people have themselves at the centre of their thoughts, whether it be signing up a new client, creating awareness for their business or connecting with someone in the hope of developing a mutually beneficial relationship.  They are looking for instant gratification.

Gary Vaynerchuck says “effective networking is about reversing the game everybody instinctively plays.  It’s about patience and buildup, not the close.  We celebrate audacity and courage instead of patience and value.”  Think of it like a dating game.  It’s not about the one night stand, its about finding your soul mate.  You’re looking for the golden nugget, the long lasting committed relationship.  

Now, I am not saying don’t attend networking events.  I’ve met some incredible people at these socials.  However you need to do something to facilitate growing valuable connections built on long-lasting trust.  How do I do this?  You shift the focus from you to thinking of them.  

Ask yourself the question, how can you become their ultimate resource.  How can you be the person that connects them to a new contact, recommends another trust professional, hairdresser, cake-maker or whatever it is that makes their life a hell of a lot easier and saves them time. Become connected to all the top businesses in your orbit. 

By becoming a connector you become a go-to person, the trusted adviser and you will be surprised how quickly this approach will be reciprocated.  Ensure that you are sharing your message along the way, so that they understand you and your business.  Because guess what, when you pay it forward, go the extra mile for someone and build mutual trust, you are at the forefront of their mind when it comes to recommending a business expert (yes that’s you!). 

So what are you waiting for?  Get out there, meet new people and remember to do it in a mindful way by always asking yourself the question, how can I become their ultimate resource? This takes a shift in mindset, but by adding extraordinary value, by learning about their issues and by creating opportunities for your clients, you can leverage your strategic partnerships and create a powerful network.

Share your vision, your ambitions, and the intimate details of organisation, and build a network of people that you love.  Attract those likeminded, A-list incredible men and women just like you.  The deeper the quality of your network the greater the magnitude your success. 

Come and join us in the Fiercely Ambitious Entrepreneurs Facebook Group, connect, build your network and magnitude your success.

Love you all.

Sarah xxx

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International Women's Day - #BeBoldForChange

Today is International Women's Day. On March 8 every year, International Women's Day is celebrated to felicitate women and their achievements. Women have come a long way in their struggle for equality, but there is still a long distance to cover. Research issued by the World Economic Forum found that it will take 170 years to close the gender pay gap around the world.  In the UK it is estimated to take 60 years to close the pay gap at the current rate of progress and 42 years in the US.  I find these statistics absolutely staggering and deeply disturbing that my (newborn) daughter may not experience pay parity in her early working career, or indeed ever at the current pace and unpredictability of the change!  

The UK government's attempt to make the pay gap reporting mandatory for all companies with more than 250 employees had been met with a lot of resistance.  The fact that the government has to legislate under the Gender Pay Gap Reporting requirements, to force change is a sad reality that there is still a huge reluctance for corporates to address the issue.

Some organisations have made monumental leaps ahead for equal pay and gender balance, addressing not only the policies that impact women but tacking the rights that men have have access to, such as better paternity entitlement equalising the balance for both genders.  Google is a great example of where huge progress has been made, they say they have closed the pay gap. CEO Marc Benioff also made sure they would not be a gender pay gap in his company.  After conducting intensive research within his company he paid out US$3M (£2.4M / AU$4.1M) to address inequalities in pay.  However these examples of corporates voluntarily doing the right thing and ensuring pay parity are few and far between.  

The that fact that in 2017 there continues to be gender inequality, with extreme inequality at its highest in single parenthood families, is a huge a social issue and will ultimately impact future economic growth.  In the UK alone PWC estimate that pay parity would boost female earnings by around £85bn per year.

Ladies, it has become so important for us to work together to remove barriers preventing pay parity and create better opportunities for women. Together we can forge a better working world - a more gender inclusive world. Empower yourself, vocalise your self-worth, be less subservient, support your fellows and #BeBoldForChange. 

Be Bold, Be Brave

This week has been an exciting week, stepping out into the world as a new Mummy.  Completely out of my comfort zone, and still fumbling around with unfathomable buttons on the buggy, it has been great to venture out to meet some of the other local Mummies.  

It would have been very easy to stay indoors with our little Chloe in the warmth, and the comfortable surroundings of our home, safe in the knowledge that nothing would be too complicated to deal with. There are lots of reasons to stay in your comfort zone including reduced stress and less anxiety, however there are unlimited benefits to stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Everyone's comfort zone is different, and what may expand your horizons may paralyze someone else.  There are so many ways to stretch your personal boundaries.  Trying news things or putting yourself in a new environment is a good way to start.  You could take a different route home or try a different local restaurant.  In a small way you are increasing your view of the world.  These are easy transitions and after making these first small steps, you may feel like you can be bolder and braver.  

Saying yes more often, even when you think you are not ready is a great way to open yourself up to new opportunities.  Say yes to new projects, new assignments and new roles, even if you haven't done it before.  As Richard Branson said "if someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes - then learn how to do it later".  

We are all creatures of habit.  We build our lives on patterns of thought, emotions and behaviours, but your success depends on your getting out of your comfort zone.  Magical things in life happen when you get out of your comfort zone. You are far more productive when you are working on something that you are not familiar with, which leads to much higher output.  You will achieve goals that you may not have thought possible before and you are certainly more creative.  

If you want to live a great life, have an amazing business, and unimaginable success you have to leave your comfort zone and put yourself out there.  Be bold, be brave and get comfortable with the uncomfortable.