From Stuck to Thriving: The ultimate guide to owning your career growth

I’ve spent years working with businesses, developing teams, and helping people create meaningful change in their lives. Throughout my journey, I’ve found that success comes not just from acquiring new skills but from upgrading the way we think, speak, and act. Here’s how you can apply this mindset shift and start making real, actionable progress today.

1. Upgrade your language: Words Shape Your Reality

Our words hold immense power. The language you use shapes your beliefs, behaviour, and reality. For years, I saw this firsthand when coaching teams. Those who said, “I can’t do this” or “This isn’t my strength” repeatedly hit walls (fixed mindset), while those who framed their challenges as opportunities to learn and grow unlocked new potential (growth mindset).

Practical Action:

• Replace limiting language: Catch yourself when you use phrases like “I’m not good at this” or “I’ll never figure this out.” Replace them with more empowering language such as “I am learning how to improve in this area” or “I am capable of solving this problem.”
• Turn "Problems" into "Opportunities": Words like “problem,” “issue,” or “difficulty” set your brain up to feel stress. Instead, use words like “challenge” or “opportunity” to trigger a mindset shift. For example, instead of saying, “I have a problem with this project,” try, “This project is an opportunity to improve my skills.”
• Replace “I Can’t” with “I Choose”: For example, instead of saying, “I can’t meet that deadline,” say, “I choose to prioritise this project differently.” This reframing forces you to own your decisions rather than feeling like a victim of circumstance.
• Identify Priorities with Clarity: Every time you use “I choose,” you are clarifying your priorities. This clarity helps you focus on what truly matters and makes it easier to say no to distractions or non-essential tasks.

Example from my experience: When I started developing Play Moments , there were countless reasons to say, “I can’t do this” due to limited resources or time. But I chose to say, “I choose to prioritise X, Y, Z, when building this app because it will help families and create long-term value.” This reframing empowered me to focus on what was most important and make decisions aligned with my goals.

• Remove “Should” from Your Vocabulary: The next time you find yourself saying, “I should go to the gym,” or “I should work on that project,” stop and replace it with “I will.” This small change shifts your mindset from passive to active and increases the likelihood that you’ll follow through.
• State Your Intentions Out Loud: Saying your intentions aloud reinforces your commitment. For example, saying, “I will complete this task by 3 PM” makes you more accountable and focused compared to saying, “I should probably finish this soon.

2. Face Your Blocks: Overcoming Mental Barriers with Language

“It is easier to give up and say you cannot do it than to rise to the challenge and achieve success.” This highlights the reality that we often have mental blocks - fear, doubt, and old beliefs/stories we tell ourselves - that make it easier to retreat than to look forward.

Your mind will naturally focus on fear because it’s designed to keep you safe. However, this means that in moments of growth or challenge, your brain will often try to convince you to back down, saying things like “You’re not ready,” or “This is too hard.” By consciously reframing these thoughts, you can move past these blocks.

Practical Action:

• Recognise and Acknowledge Your Fears: When fear-based thoughts arise, don’t ignore them - acknowledge them. Say, “I recognise that this fear is here to protect me, but it doesn’t control my actions.” This separates you from your automatic fear responses and gives you control over how you act.
• Flip the Script on Your Fears: When your mind says, “I can’t,” answer back with, “What if I can?” If the thought is, “This is too hard,” respond with, “This is an opportunity to grow stronger.” This constant practice shifts your focus from fear to possibility.

Example from my experience: Throughout my career, whether fundraising at age 17 for my place at university or pitching for my business, I’ve faced countless mental blocks. It’s always easier to give up and say, “This is too hard.”, "I'm too tired", "I'm not good enough". But instead, I learned to flip the script: “This is hard now, but I’m growing through this challenge" , "I am feeling tired, and showing up" understanding that in those moments, you grow and develop. By reframing my thoughts this way, I built resilience and achieved things I once thought impossible.

3. Make Reframing a Habit: Practice the Skill Daily

Changing the way you speak is not an overnight transformation - it’s a skill you develop over time. Since the mind naturally tends to focus on fear and negativity (a survival mechanism), it takes conscious effort to redirect your thoughts and words toward growth.

Practical Action:

• Daily Check-In: At the end of each day, reflect on moments where you caught yourself using fear-based language. Write them down and reframe them in a more empowering way. This practice will help you become more aware of the language you’re using and gradually shift your habits.
• Use Positive Prompts: Surround yourself with reminders to reframe your language. Whether it’s sticky notes on your desk or phone notifications with empowering phrases, these prompts will help you form new linguistic habits. For example, use reminders like “I’m capable” or “I create my own opportunities” throughout the day.

The combination of experiential learning, a growth mindset, and conscious language creates a powerful framework for continuous self-development.

It moves you beyond passive learning and into a space where you’re actively shaping your reality through your experiences and words. By applying these principles in your daily life, you’ll not only enhance your personal and professional growth but also experience the world in a more intentional, empowered way.

What’s one change in your language or learning approach that you’ll implement today? Let me know in the comments!