Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better.
Q4 is well underway girl and we wanna support you in your efforts. We wanna make sure you’re feeling motivated and ready to rock ‘n roll through the remainder of the year! Here are 7 Easy Tips that’ll help you slay your q4 goals.
Pitch-HER Perfect, or Nah?
A solid elevator pitch is essential to bossing up your lifestyle and landing your next opportunity. Your elevator pitch is your goldmine, not having one is not an option for a BAWSE Babe like you. It’s like choosing between having an AMEX or a Rush card. Clearly you’re goaling for a limitless and bountiful American Express type lifestyle, where there are #nolimits to what you can do or where you can go. You’re in this to LEVEL UP! Opportunities are everywhere. My motto is ABN— Always Be Networking. Even when you’re off the clock. Think big picture. Attend conferences and charity events, getting involved on community boards and providing support and insight where needed can be leveraged as a tool to draw in new clients. It’s all about making yourself and your services visible to your TARGET audience. It all begins with the introduction, a simple yet POWERFUL elevator pitch will do the trick every time. Let people know who you are, what you do, and what makes you standout amongst the competition. In other words, educate them on what your unique selling proposition is and how clients benefit from working with you.
There comes a time when receipts ACTUALLY MATTER. Get your resumé and portfolio all the way together B.A.W.S.E.S:
You don’t have to get ready when you stay ready friends! I say this often, and it’s so true. When opportunity knocks on your door… You’ve got to be fully clothed and ready to entertain. otherwise, Big “O” is likely to knock elsewhere. Update your resume as you gain experience and expertise in your field. Don’t wait until the day of to get current. Besides, a career search is a competition… You ARE COMPETING! Therefore you want to ensure that your resume and portfolio is the absolute best reflection of your accomplishments and overall work experiences.
Get Linked– Get In!
LinkedIn is where it’s at. It’s a key network to get familiar with business bosses around the world. It’s also great in determining the who’s who within your local business district. Most senior leaders, business bosses, and career/PR professionals have LinkedIn profiles. Especially if they’re in the business of recruiting and such so be proactive. Use professional networking sites to your advantage. Reach out to folks. Ask questions and even offer up solutions and recommendations where you can. In doing so you can diversify the quality and pool of your personal and professional network.
Get Fit, Get LIT:
As a thirty something woman, I juggle many hats. I’m a wife, a mother, a career woman, and a freelancer/blogger. Often times I feel overwhelmed with my to-do list, and when the list just keeps growing self-care is the first thing that slides to the right on my schedule. The logic was pretty simple. If I don’t go to the gym, I can write another blogpost. If you skip the massage or facial, you can get the laundry squared away. Fact is, that’s backwards hustling at its core. As your workload and lifestyle changes, and your body matures, you realize how imperative self-care is, and why having a routine fitness/self-care plan aids you in living your best life. Now that I’ve taken a serious stand to carve out time for my personal needs, I feel much better. After a good workout, I have more clarity and I’m able to focus. I feel a burst of energy and a since of accomplishment as well. Your body will talk to you and tell you what you need to do and when it does, it’s important to listen to it. The best time to workout, is when you don’t feel like doing anything at all. Five minutes into the workout and you’ve already forgotten about how tired you were before you started. Besides, living a healthy lifestyle enhances your ability to produce superior work.
A “Go-to” Power Suit:
Yup, a go-to power suit is STILL an absolute MUST for any boss lady and powerhouse on the come-up. If your boss calls you up to do a high-level brief in his/her absence, then you better damn well be ready. You don’t wanna pull something together at the last minute. Every woman should have a tailored suit in her closet. If you get the interview of your lifetime do you want to spend time preparing for the interview or shopping for something to wear? Decision, decisions. You’ll be under enough pressure as it is, no need for added stress. Let the 7 P’s be your compass. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Every. Single. Time! As mentioned above, girl you ain’t gotta get ready when you stay ready. If you’re looking for the perfect power suit, you may want to check JCPenny. You heard that correctly. Word on the street is our girl Tracey Ellis Ross is launching a clothing line at Penny’s and it’s about to be the move. I’ve already got my eyes on a few pieces. Do note, I’ll be sharing my top 7 Pics from her collection so check back soon.
Oh, The Places You’ll go! But first, you must have a CURRENT PASSPORT:
You never know when the opportunity will arise for you to head out of the country. Don’t be ill prepared. Get your passport squared away early. It’s one thing to paste “Explore South of France” on your vision board, but it’s a whole new wave when you actually PREPARE and PLAN the when and how of your adventure to St. Tropez. One of the initial steps to exploring outside of the good ole US of A, is to have a current passport. Next is to have some coins on had to fund your adventure. Obtaining a passport is not the quickest thing to do. Typically, it takes about 6-8 weeks. so it’s best to get an early jump on things. Remember, we have to plan and prepare for the life we want to live. Good things happen to people who are prepared for the opportunity when it comes their way. Besides, when you level up your personal and professional connections, you level up your lifestyle. Bosses who make BAWSE moves are always ready and willing to jet set to another country to secure the bags.
A Mentor +Mentee = The Best of Both Worlds:
In summary “The best way a mentor can prepare another leader is to expose him or her to other great people” John C. Maxwell said a mouthful with that one, didn’t he? A great mentor is invaluable to your personal and professional growth. Rolling out a map or plugging into GPS is a great way to explore a new place, but having a local on your side, someone who knows the ins and outs of the city, someone who knows how to avoid the bottleneck traffic and common detours is a far better advantage. Mentors know all of the good spots, they know the hidden gems of the city, and they are the connection you need to expand your network (which will in-turn increase your personal and professional netWORTH!) In coming articles we’ll expand on this topic by sharing a few tips on how to secure a professional Mentor. In terms of having a Mentee or Protege, it’s a great way to pay it forward.
Have you ever heard the saying “The best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.” Well, I’ve tried it and it’s true. Teaching others and sharing my insights and expertise has flourished into a passion of mine. I enjoy helping people where I can. I don’t view those in my fields (fashion, blogging, or acquisition) as competition. I don’t view their success as having a negative impact on my ability to succeed. Having this mindset has helped me live a more fulfilling, stress free lifestyle. I believe in winning TOGETHER as a collective. When you adapt that mindset, you open the doors for #GoodKarma to enter. Think about it, and then take action. Seek ways to be a blessing to someone else, even when they can be construed as your competition.
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Nikki
I finally got my passport this year and I am so so happy I did that!! Now I can always do a last min trip if that comes up!! So funny thing is I have a great suit, but it’s actually a ton outdated now, so I think Xmas I will shop for a new black power suit!!
Maya
Congrats! I see all kinds of stamps in your BAWSED up future. You’re such a go-getter there is nothing that can stand in the way of you and your dream destination, especially not a passport!