Culture

Ever Wonder Why You Keep Ignoring That Feeling?

This morning, I found myself thinking about the quiet voice inside us all.

The one that says, “Do this,” even when logic tells you not to. Or the one that says, “Walk away,” even when everything looks shiny on the outside.

That voice isn’t loud or dramatic, but it carries an unshakable certainty. I call it my gut. You might call it intuition, inner knowing, divine download, or simply a feeling.

Yet most of us don’t listen.

We drown it out with spreadsheets, pros and cons lists, and everyone else’s opinions. We mute it under the constant noise of social media and the barrage of advice telling us how to live.

But your gut – that inner knowing – is rarely wrong. It may not guide you down the easiest path, but it will always lead you to the truest one.

That’s what I explored on my latest podcast episode. I shared stories about trusting my gut, ignoring it, and what happened each time. It’s honest, raw, and might remind you of your own moments of knowing. Or maybe it will just make you feel better about the craziness of your own life.

Over 62 years of building companies, coaching high performers, raising kids, loving deeply, and picking myself up over and over, I’ve learned:

Courage isn’t about fearlessness. It’s about doing the hard things despite the fear.

Trusting your gut is an act of courage. So is living a life that feels right instead of one that just looks right.

That’s why I created my Courage Formula Foundations program. Over the past few months, I’ve refined it with powerful frameworks, real-world practices, and a Field Guide & Journal to help you build unshakable courage, clarity, and self-trust.

Here’s what I believe:

  • You already have courage within you. It just needs to be activated.
  • You already know what you want and don’t want. You may just be afraid to admit it.
  • You already know what to do next. You’re just waiting for permission.

If your gut is whispering right now, pay attention. It might be saying, “This is your next step.”

So today, before your calendar takes over, ask yourself:

What is my gut telling me today?

Listen. Trust it. Act on it.

That’s where your courage lives.

Ready to build deeper self-trust and courage? Learn more about Courage Formula Foundations starting September 3 HERE

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A time for healing

I must admit I'm tired, it's been an emotionally exhausting 48 hours.

Sometimes things don't go as planned.  I'm taking my own advice today and choosing to not be consumed by the negativity, to focus on what i can control and to just be in the moment.  Yesterday was rough - but the silver lining was that I was honored to speak at Annual Women's Achievement Awards hosted by the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. A HUGE shout out to their Executive Director - the AMAZING Renee Miller (I grabbed a selfie with her before I left). She and her team did a great job of bringing together some of the most inspiring women I've ever met.

Women who challenged the status quo.

Women who stood up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves.

Women who helped people and families when they were in their darkest hours.

Women who are changing the lives of others, who are breaking barriers - who are simply raising their hand to say "it's my time - and here I am."

The energy in the room was infectious. I met some new friends, have a few coffee (or wine!) dates lined up and even ran into a long time colleague Pauline Handy from back in my insurance days - we had never met in person until yesterday!  Talk about a gift!

I needed yesterday far more than they needed me as a keynote.

The day was healing.

The day gave me hope.

That morning I posted on my social that I had lost hope in humanity.  I was being honest - it's how I felt.  I felt let down, gutted and afraid.

I needed that sisterhood - and the energy from several awesome men in the audience who snuck up to me after my speech and told me they "got me", they understood my words and they also understood what needs to be done.

I didn't hold back in my keynote - I didn't dim my light.

I talked about equality, I talked about leadership, I talked about inclusion and the importance empowering others to use their voices for the greater good.

The healing begins - but the work isn't over.

I deeply believe in women's rights - but more importantly I believe in human rights.

We come together when we build bridges not walls.

We come together when we lift others up, not when we pull or push them down.

I hate to admit it but I don't think America is ready for a female president - especially one of color.  Many of my friends told me that - and I didn't want to believe it. Yet - here we are.

She was held to a different standard.

She fought a great fight, given the circumstances she was tossed.

And now we move on.

I'm not sure what the future will hold - but I know I have what it takes to get through it.

I'm worried about the affordable care act, women's health care, public education, the economy, avoiding wars and I'm worried about the division, the racism and the violence.

It's the hand we've been dealt.  It's not our first rodeo.  My grandmothers got through earning the right to vote, the great depression, world wars, the civil rights movement, Roe V Wade, the availability of birth control and hell - prohibition!  Sadly they died before marriage equality was passed but I'm so incredibly grateful my daughter was sitting in the Supreme Court that fateful day to watch it become official.

I'm going to channel my daughter today - on her forearm is tattooed:

"You rarely win, but sometimes you do." Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird.   

It means - you stand up for what you believe in, even if you think the odds are stacked against you.  Because sometimes - you will win those battles and they will be worth it. You persist.

Things always don't turn out how you imagine - but that doesn't mean you give up.  

There is always hope and there is always a fight to fight.

Find your tribe, surround yourself with likeminded people - find that healing energy, that inspirational energy - that empowering energy.

It's going to be ok.

Thank you again Renee for yesterday - you were my guardian angel that I didn't realize I needed.

A time for healing Read More »

The Fight is Real

Happy Monday and Hello November! I'm sitting here in the RV, huddled under my down comforter with coffee by my side. Yea - we are still in my son's Connecticut driveway wrapping up the final swing of my speaking engagements and work obligations before we pack up and head south to pick up Dave's mom and head to Germany for the holidays.

Go grab a beverage (and that blanket) and let's dive in. I like many have a lot on my mind this November 4th.

In my life-time I hope we can change this.

It's a big week here in the U.S. Tomorrow is election day, and many - including me - are anxious, exhilarated and hopeful that we will break an almost 250 year run and elect the first woman president. The first woman of color as president. It's one of the biggest glass ceilings - and I hoping to see it shattered.

Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History.

My favorite hat with one of my favorite quotes- in the pic above. I got it at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

I'm not a radical feminist - I don't have a poster of Gloria Steinem hanging up that I bow to daily, but I do DEEPLY believe in equality for all.

As women - we are held to a different standard. I've met and worked with a myriad of amazing male leaders but most of them didn't have to fight nearly as hard as their female counterparts - including me - to get where they are.

As women when...

We show empathy - we are weak.

We show confidence - we are bitchy.

We take time to be with our family - we can't possibly be effective leaders.

We take time away from family to work on our career - and we are God awful mothers.

I've been through it all - and then some.

I was taught to put my nose to the grindstone, do what I was told and to not question authority. That didn't work out too well. If you know me - well you know.

Shifting

Wednesday I have the privilege of being the keynote speaker for the Annual Women's Achievement Awards hosted by the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. There's nothing like being in a room full of empowered and smart women. The energy is infectious - truly infectious!

Over the past 6 months I've spoken at a myriad of women only events - or those honoring women - and I'm honored and humbled to have been a part of it all!

I want it to end.

Not women achieving greatness - but I want the NEED to continually have to show the world that we are capable.

I want more than 52 women CEOs in the Fortune 500.

I want more than 25% of C-suites in those 500 companies to be women.

And yes - I want equal pay, for equal work for women.

We are capable - beyond capable. Just put a single mom in charge of a project and watch her fly - we are super human because we needed to be.

We should be celebrating Kamala for her achievements not because she's a woman or the color of her skin. And, those achievements are many.

But, I know the importance of tomorrow.

I understand the assignment - we've worked so hard to get here and we aren't going back.

It's not just women's rights - it's human rights.

I'm tired of the fight - because there shouldn't have to be one.

I'm tired of the divide, because when we come together magic happens - yet we continue to battle.

Equality matters.

Today - I'm channeling Martin Luther King - in his famed "I Have a Dream Speech" - I beg of you to read it if you never have, or read it again because his words are even more relevant today.

As he gave his life for equality in America - he poignantly said:

"We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

This is a reminder to lift others up, help those who can't help themselves, understand that you never know someone's entire story and that women are beyond capable to lead - a family, a committee, a company and yes - a country.

Have an amazing day and go VOTE!

Sending big love xoxoxo

Cindy

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mistakes

Are You a Mistakes Repeat Offender?

Everyone makes mistakes – we are human after all.  But, are you a repeat offender?  Do you even recognize you’ve made a mistake?  Are you constantly doing damage control?

Deep breath – you aren’t alone.

Here are some tips and guidelines to help you reduce the number of mistakes you are making, what to do when you make them, and how to prevent them from happing again.

  1. OWN YOUR MISTAKES. The worst thing you can do after making a mistake is not owning it. No one is perfect, people inherently know that although let’s be honest we often expect it. So when you make a mistake don’t try to cover it up, acknowledge it, apologize for it, and skip the part where you make excuses or try to blame it on someone else. When you aren’t an “oops owner” it shows you can’t take accountability for your actions, and it just makes things awkward for everyone involved. Be a LEADER and OWN it!
  2. FIND OUT THE ROOT CAUSE. If you work in manufacturing, root cause analysis is a term you probably hear all the time, but it can apply to anyone and any industry. Root cause analysis is finding out WHY the mistake happened in the first place so you can prevent it from happening again. Was it caused by operator/human error, a bad process or procedure, poor communication, etc.? If you don’t know what caused the mistake, then how can you make sure it won’t happen again?
  3. CREATE NEW POLICIES OR PROCEDURES. If you’ve determined that the error is due to poor or incomplete policies or procedures, then it’s time to do some updating. Whether you need to create a new process or update the ones you already have in place, it’s important to document any change that needs to be made.
  4. You’d be surprised how many times there are mistakes or issues because of poor communication. Once you’ve handled the above 3 steps, it’s important to communicate to everyone what the issue was and how it’s going to be fixed. It shows your employees, board members, clients, etc. that you care about preventing the same mistakes from happening again.

If you make a mistake, don’t freak out. Take a deep breath and figure out if you need to take any immediate steps to fix any urgent issues or fall out. Always make sure you acknowledge you made a mistake and that you will do your best to fix it. If it requires getting others involved, don’t be embarrassed – they are human too – and can often have an outsider’s perspective on why it happened or how to avoid it happening again!

The end goal – one and done and no repeat offenders.

Are You a Mistakes Repeat Offender? Read More »

handbook

Is Your Employee Handbook Collecting Dust?

Unless you are a new company who just penned your employee handbook, odds are that yours hasn’t been updated in quite some time – at least not a major overhaul. The way we work and what our employees come to expect from a workplace have changed a lot over the past couple of years. Of course, 2020 has been the year of unpredictability, but even before all the craziness, how any team works is ever evolving.

Today’s employees can’t embrace the 9-5 workday like they did in the past. Why? Work life balance has become difficult to maintain and nearly impossible to separate the two. Gone are the days where it’s common for 1 parent to stay home and manage the kids and household. So what does this all have to do with updating your Employee Handbook – EVERYTHING! Employees need flexibility now more than ever.

Rigid rules where an employee is penalized for taking a personal day last minute to handle an emergency or leave work early to catch a kid’s soccer game are a thing of the past. Employees are no longer prioritizing jobs over family. Life is short and no one will ever say on their death bed that they wished they stayed to finish their month-end report instead of watching little Joey score the game winning goal. Adapting now to the new way of working will help you keep dedicated and exceptional employees.

Consider adding these to your handbook if you haven’t already:

Flex time: As long as your employee gets their work done, does it matter when they do it? If they need an afternoon off and can get their work done later that night or by working a few extra hours early in the morning, why not let them. Unless it needs to be done at a specific time, allow your employees some flexibility in their hours.

Summer hours: Trust me, at 2 pm on a hot, sunny Friday afternoon, no one is getting much work done. They are already daydreaming about what they are doing after work, this weekend, etc. Consider letting employees take Friday afternoons off between Memorial Day and Labor Day by cutting their lunches short or coming in a half hour early each day.

Working remote: While this may have been forced on many people in 2020, many people are finding that their employees are happier and more productive. Why? No rush hour traffic, less stress with getting the kids ready and out the door, less worrying about things they need to do outside work – your morning 15 minute coffee break is now a great time to run the vacuum, fold a load of laundry, or check in on the kids. I think home offices are going to be trending for quite some time. And it saves the employer overhead costs too!

More vacation time: Did you know that employees who take more vacation time are actually happier more successful AND productive employees?  Not only should you be encouraging your employees to use every last minute of PTO time, but it might be time to take another look at your earned vacation time. One week is just not enough – especially if you need to work a full year before taking it.  PS – at The Red Barn we have a minimum 4 week vacation rule and there are zero issues with taking a mental health day when it’s needed.

In the long run, it costs a company far less money to keep good employees and make sure they are happy, than it does to keep turning over unhappy employees. Does your company have a cool perk – we’d love to hear what it is – send us an email at social@staging.redbarnconsultingllc.com.

Is Your Employee Handbook Collecting Dust? Read More »

Mentor vs. Coach – What’s the Difference and Which do I Need?

Whether you are stuck in a rut or crushing your goals – having a mentor or coach who helps you with your personal development can be a game-changer. The first step of course is finding someone you are comfortable talking to – but how do you know if you need a mentor or a coach – and what the heck is the difference?

A mentor or coach can support your drive for greater self-esteem, problem-solving skills, and enhanced confidence in managing challenges, especially in uncomfortable situations. But they really aren’t the same.

Mentoring is defined as “A process of direct transfer of experience and knowledge from one person to another”. We often think of a mentor as a seasoned professional who provides guidance and direction to a mentee—usually a junior–level person with similar interests who may aspire to the position of the mentor. The mentor has already achieved success within the industry and is voluntarily sharing their expertise with a colleague. This doesn’t just apply to the corporate world, if you are starting your own business, you may find a mentor who took a similar path to what you want to take or who is already in the industry you plan to work in. Mentors typically aren’t paid; they volunteer their time to help mentor others.

Coaching is defined as “A method of achieving set goals. A coach helps their clients achieve specific, immediate goals as defined by the organization or the client”. If you are an employee, your company may hire a coach to help you, but as an entrepreneur, you may hire a coach to help you with a specific goal or skill. You may hire a coach to help you launch a business, write a book, improve on your social media or writing skills, etc. Coaches are paid for their work because it’s their job – their main business is coaching others.

Key differentiators

Relationship: Mentoring is oriented around relationships – yes, you might focus on learning things and improving competencies, but over time it becomes more about the bond and rapport you develop vs. business issues.

Coaching is more task-oriented. A coach is there to help you become more proficient in certain areas or skills you are lacking – for example if you suck at doing presentations, you might hire a public speaking coach.

Drivers: Mentors are development-driven, focusing on the future by sharing their past experiences and what they learned to help the mentee.

Coaches are performance-driven, focusing on the present, and improving or acquiring new skills that can be used immediately.

Duration: Mentoring doesn’t usually have an end date; it’s understood that there is a significant time commitment from both parties as you move from acquaintances to building a strong fellowship – mentoring can last years or even decades.

Coaching typically has a defined end date. You set a specific schedule to meet and it ends when the trainee masters the skills or goal that’s been defined. Of course, you can keep adding new goals to work on, but there is a defined start and end for each commitment.

Key take-a-ways:

  • Mentoring is a long-term process based on mutual trust and respect. Coaching, on the other hand, is for a short period of time.
  • Mentoring is more focused on creating an informal association between the mentor and mentee, whereas coaching follows a more structured and formal approach.
  • A business mentor has the first-hand experience of the mentee’s line of work. A business coach, however, does not need to have a hands-on experience of the kind of work the coachee is engaged in.
  • The topmost priority of a business mentor is to help develop skills that are not just relevant for the mentees in their present job, but also for the future. For a business coach, the biggest priority is to improve performance that impacts the present job.

Need help finding a mentor? Did you know that there are actually 8 levels of mentorship – check out this cool article on how to find a mentor? Finding the right business coach requires some legwork as well, here are 16 tips to help you find the right fit.

Now that you understand the difference, go forth, and find your new coach or mentor. Thinking of starting your own business or need some coaching in marketing, sales, or operations –  we may be able to help!

Mentor vs. Coach – What’s the Difference and Which do I Need? Read More »

burnout

Are you suffering from Burnout?

Burnout is a real thing and can happen to anyone. Does the thought of going to work on Monday morning leave you already feeling exhausted and frazzled by Sunday at noon? Does your 8 hour workday feel like you’ve been battling in the trenches for 8 days straight? Are you finding it hard to get motivated once you are actually at work?

You might shrug it off as just going through a rough patch or a busy time – but you could be suffering from burnout! Burnout can manifest itself differently for different people, so there isn’t one centralized definition. However, in May 2019, the World Health Organization updated and added more detail to their entry on burnout. Previously defined only as a “state of vital exhaustion,” it’s now classified as a “syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

It’s important to note that burnout is specifically work-related and is characterized by:

  • A sense of exhaustion or depletion
  • Mental distance from or negativity or cynicism about work
  • Decreased effectiveness at work

If you’ve ever heard the saying you can’t pour from an empty cup – that’s a great analogy for burnout – you have nothing left in the cup or proverbial gas tank to accomplish anything.

So we have the definition, but what are the actual signs of burnout?

  • You aren’t excited about work anymore. Projects that you used to get excited, energized about, or make you feel fulfilled seem boring or a chore. You aren’t getting satisfaction from your work.
  • You are going through the motions. You have stopped putting in any effort or caring. You are doing the bare minimum to get by.
  • Your performance is going downhill. You are making errors you wouldn’t normally make or are missing deadlines that used to be easy to meet. You just want to get the task done; you don’t care if it’s done to your usual standards.
  • You are exhausted – all the time. You feel physically and emotionally depleted and drained. Even getting out of bed to go to work is a challenge.
  • You start having physical ailments. The symptoms can be different for everyone, but can include insomnia, chest pain, headaches, getting sick more often, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and even GI issues.

What to do if you are suffering from burnout.

Once you’ve come to the realization that you are suffering from burnout, what do you do? The simplest and easiest step is to take some time off, but that alone won’t solve the issue – it just gives you a little breathing room. Most often you’ll need to make a more significant change like changing your attitude or changing your workload or work situation.

Often times you can recognize negative habits and thought patterns and work to stop them when they happen. If you associate with being a perfectionist, you are more likely to suffer from burnout.

Changing your work situation can have a few different options. The easiest might be adjusting your workload. If you have too much on your place, burnout can happen. Talk to your boss to see if you can lighten your load. If it’s the job or company itself, it might be time for a change. Moving to a different department and doing something different for the same company could make a big difference. Otherwise, it might be time to look for a new job elsewhere.

Burnout is hard to recognize, and it doesn’t go away on its own. Identifying and then addressing burnout requires some conscious thought and effort and the only one who can ultimately fix it is you.

Are you suffering from Burnout? Read More »

How to handle a Bad Review or Post on Social Media

Working your brand on social media is GREAT until it isn’t – ugh, a bad review comes in.

As business owners we are all human, which means we make mistakes.  Perhaps we were late delivering on a promise, or a job we promised to be perfect ended up taking a wrong turn or we have an employee that does something inappropriate – it happens more often than we like, or think.

So what happens when the dirty laundry shows up on social media in the form of a bad review, a nasty-gram post, or the troll that just goes all out and posts everywhere how horrible you are.

Well there is a right way…and a terribly WRONG way to handle it.

  1. Own it. If you’ve done something wrong, if you have an unhappy customer just own it.  Don’t make excuses, don’t blame someone else. As the owner, it’s your role to take the hits 100% of the time.
  2. Understand that most unhappy customers just want to be validated and have you take ownership (see #1).
  3. Address the situation PUBLICALLY – so say, “Annie – I’m so terribly sorry you are upset and this happened to you, I’m sending you a private message now so we can get to the bottom of it”. Of course, pen the response according to the situation.
  4. Take it OFFLINE – you don’t want to get in a pissing match with someone in a Facebook feed. Take it off line – call them, email – whatever it takes.
  5. Get to the bottom of the issue – because we all know it could just be they were having a bad day and a minute little mishap has now turned into catastrophe! If you can – make amends.
  6. If you can fix things – ask them to kindly remove the post. It’s better if they do it versus you deleting it.

And more…..

What if they are a troll just trying to make your life miserable? Delete the post and block them.  That’s not to say they won’t find another place to vent. You can’t fix it all.

What about bad Google Reviews?  Unscrupulous competitors will leave negative fake reviews just to be jerks.  Even if it’s FAKE do the following:

  • Address the complaint and apologize for whatever they are complaining about
  • State you can’t seem to find them in your records as being a customer
  • Offer to fix whatever is the problem, give them contact information to whomever is the “fixer”
  • Flag or report the review as fraudulent

NOTE: *Even if you flagged the review, prospects and customers may still see it, or it may not be removed—this is why you ALWAYS respond.

 The big answer: RESPOND.  100% of the Time. 

 If you ignore or just delete, it’s only going to fuel the fire.  If you find yourself in a bad situation and the complaints are piling up – this of course is a bigger problem.  Turn off the review option on social media and watch Google, Yelp and other platforms like a hawk.  Be honest – “we are overwhelmed with orders and are doing our best to catch up” – etc.

In the end, negative reviews are usually overpowered by the GREAT ones! So It’s in your best interest to get as many 5 Stars as you can. So the best response to a negative response is not to have any in the first place.  Make sure you understand your customer journey, your staff is properly trained and your operations are in check.

Struggling?  Give us a call.  We won’t manage your negative press, but we will get you in tip-top shape!

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The Power of Flexible Work Schedules

At the Red Barn, we have a standard 8-4 schedule, but we still consider it a flexible work schedule – meaning Jenn and I will typically log in to Skype around 8 am EST to connect and Jenn usually checks out around 4 pm to head to the gym but that’s about as structured as we get.

I learned early on in my career that my most productive and creative time is before the sun comes up.  (I’m writing this before 5 am)  I also know that by 2 pm on most days my brain is done for the day – mainly because I’m up at 4 and I’ve put in a good 8 hour day.  I try my best not to schedule meetings in the afternoon – but that doesn’t always happen because like any business I have customers and it’s important that I meet them where they need to be!

I know the productive times of my team and I let them work when they are in the zone and I surely don’t push them to do work when I know it will be a struggle – unless we are in an all hands on deck situation for a client.  PS – we try to avoid those moments but it happens!

Knowing your team is critical.  Knowing when they are productive is key if you want to run an efficient and effective ship.  This also includes watching for the “I need a mental health day” cues.  Everyone has a bad day or even a day when you just “can’t” for whatever reason – I just hone in on those cues and give my team the option to go home, quit early or run away from life for a few hours if that’s what they need to do.

In the end, I focus on getting GOOD work out the door – I really don’t care when that work gets done. I do care HOW it turns out.  I don’t care if someone wants to not work on Monday and would prefer to work on Sunday – I just need to know ahead of time.  I also don’t really care about the number of PTO days taken – in fact, I usually have to remind team members to take their vacation time.  Because I don’t hang PTO over their head and I only track it because I have to for HR reasons – the PTO time never gets abused.  Well, at least it hasn’t up to this point.

The flexible work schedule doesn’t work for every employee or for every business – but if you are open to trying it and seriously letting go of the corporate structure mindset – you just might be amazed at the results. Need an example – look at Microsoft – they had a 40% productivity boost when they switched to a 4 day work week.

Happy Employees = Happy Clients = Increased Revenues

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collaboration

Why Collaboration is EVERYTHING

I learned very early in my career that finding a mentor is key to success – learn from others who have been down the path you want to go.  I also learned that being a mentor to others is not only gratifying it’s important to the success life cycle. So what does that have to do with collaboration?

 The Cycle

You don’t need to reinvent wheels – you simply need to take the design of the wheel, the research already done on the effectiveness of the wheel – and put your own spin on it.  The magic happens when that original wheel inventor actually learns a thing or two from you and your new spins on his/her design.

This is called Collaboration.  In the process of gathering intel and learning you are SHARING your wisdom in return.  The cycle of success keeps moving and growing the more you collaborate, learn and share. 

Starting

  • The secret to mastering the success life cycle is knowing who to collaborate with. It begins with YOU.  You must clearly define what you want, where you want to go and what you want to be.  Write them down.
  • Next you need to find others who have successfully achieved what you want. Social media is a perfect example of how this happens ALL THE TIME.  Want to run a marathon?  Head over to twitter, Facebook and Instagram and Google and search out expert marathoners. Become obsessed with learning everything they do from what they eat, how they train, how much they sleep and what they wear.  Adapt it to your lifestyle and go.  Ask questions, give feedback to others – soon you will be the expert and sharing your stories to help others!
  • Consider IRL collaborations. Meeting people face to face or IN REAL LIFE trumps online connections 90% of the time – if you are very intentional who you are connecting with.  It’s all about having a solid support system – the inner circle of folks who you deeply trust and feel comfortable sharing with.
  • Let go of your ego. Being a newbie or a learner is not a sign of weakness, nor is being a mentor to others a sign of superiority.  This is about collaboration and serving.  Egos should be checked at the door.

If you want to win the long game – don’t do it solo.  Know success is a journey – there will be ups and downs, having a support system will get you to the finish line a hell of a lot quicker than going solo.

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