Many of us grow up with big dreams and big ideas. As we experience the real world and go through the ebb and flow of life, our goals and dreams slowly fade away and we become complacent about mediocrity.

 

But there are some who stay the course and reach the highest echelons of success. Oprah Winfrey, JK Rowling and Sonia Sotomayor, among many others, are some of the well-known examples of women who have overcome severe hardships.

 

Despite the tremendous progress women have made, men still outnumber us as entrepreneurs, leaders and politicians. While there are uncontrollable factors such as family commitments, resources, time and budget constraints, there are factors we can control. Here are a few important ones.

 

1. Show up before you are ready

 

Once my boss was pondering possible project managers for a new and exciting project. A male colleague of mine jumped in and quipped that he should be the project manager. Both my boss and I had high regard for him and we knew he could get the job done despite not having much expertise on the subject matter.

 

This incident was a learning moment for me to be bold and take on challenges. We lose opportunities by underplaying our capabilities and qualifications. Always seize opportunities to shine. Be your biggest fan and cheerleader. Be fearless and go after what you want, and you will find a way to succeed.

 

2. Do not allows others to sway you

 

We generally seek approval of those around us and even a slight hint of criticism derails us from our goals. To be successful, we need to put on blinders and continue on the path we chose for ourselves rather than let others shape and influence our thinking and our destiny. Criticism is a wonderful thing if it is used for continuous improvement.

 

3. Have discipline

 

With all the noise around us, it is easy to get distracted and lose focus. I am guilty of this but I am grateful for a spouse who gives me a reality check when I am going through a slump. To be successful, we have to give 100 percent, which means having the will to avoid temptations. But discipline also means having the ability to balance different priorities of life.

 

4. Reflect on your journey

 

Of all the advice women get, this may be most overlooked. We don’t run a business or a project without an evaluation strategy, yet we often fail to execute this important lesson in the project of life. Every so often, we all need to step back, reflect on our past accomplishments and success factors, assess our current progress and examine whether we are headed in the right direction. Welcome and celebrate your failures, it will certainly introduce you to success.

 

5. Evolve everyday

 

Success is defined as an accomplishment of an aim or purpose. This purpose could be small or big. We have to incessantly measure whether or not we are evolving. This could mean taking care of our health, gaining additional credentials, undertaking a new activity that gets us closer to our goals, or simply becoming better at something. Perfectionism is not a destination but a constant journey. As famously put, “life is a moving, breathing thing. We have to be willing to constantly evolve. Perfection is constant transformation.” 

 

I am currently on my own journey. I have launched a nonprofit organization called Unfolding Energy. I don’t know where it will lead me, but I do know that any chance of success will come from hard work, determination, resilience, utmost positive attitude, and staying the course. And having a good support system is undeniably necessary.

 

So, whatever your journey may be, surround yourself with positive people who believe in you. Do not give up — the beginning is always the hardest. Stay the course, and you will succeed.

 

 

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Contact Kasotia by email or by phone at 515-802-0412. Follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.