Remember Where You Started

I remember when I first started my company how completely excited and utterly petrified I was. It still utterly excites and petrifies me 9 years later...

I have never worked so hard in all my life. I suppose being my own business, it is like another child. You created it, you love it, you want to see how beautifully it grows, and you can't keep your eyes off it. I started this company from a blog and knew in my heart that my purpose around leadership would make the difference to its success. It has been the most challenging and best thing I have ever done. 

Since starting the company 9 years ago, 2016 was the year I learnt the most lessons. Unsure why; as it was a year of some many incredible ups and downs. And sometimes the perception we create is that we only portray the ups, achievements and successes. Regardless of everything I have achieved and will achieve I will never forget where I started. However last year I found that many of us do. We forget why we are doing this, where it all began, our purpose…we can forget. 

Purpose is everything. 

This year I was determined to get myself and LeadershipHQ out there. Big time. Let me share something with you; I had times where I made a complete fool of myself and times where I got a great YES! Leadership is about courage. 

I spent 2016 reaching out to people across the globe to be my mentor, to read my latest book, invest in our magazine, for advice and guidance and to collaborate with me. I got told by an icon in publication space they didn't have time for me. She was too busy and I replied back to her saying that I was disappointed as I know she started somewhere too. Someone else who is a brilliant business mind; I once asked for guidance told me that I couldn't afford him so they turned me down. Ouch that hurt. I sent my latest book Leadership Attitude to 100’s of people; Oprah, Brene Brown (she tweeted that she would love to read it; cool hey), Richard Branson (got a reply letter), Simon Sinek, Naomi Simson and Ellen Degeneres to name a few and didn't get replies from most. Whatever happened to a thank you or reply? I always remember each and everyday to be grateful and say thank you. 

In turn, a speaking bureau told me there are too many speakers on leadership and rejected me; whilst several others have engaged me. I stay focussed on rocking it on the speaking circuit as this is my true passion. I have even spoken for free or even at a smaller rate at a number of events and conferences to get myself out there. I knew I had to start somewhere. Not anymore though. The one thing that resonates with me when I speak is how amazing I feel when I am on stage. And the thing that matters most is when I have people coming up to me and telling me how I changed their world. They love how I have kept it real and I am truly me; authentic, passionate, humble, down to earth and caring.

I focus on my passion. I keep it real always. 

I went on a 20 week campaign to get Richard Branson as my mentor (there was a reason behind it). I posted videos, tweeted, set up a Facebook page and wrote Blogs on LinkedIn to get his attention as well as a personal letter. He never replied. So I said next. I went to a Business Chicks breakfast and saw Carolyn Creswell speak; she was fantastic by the way. Then on the way to the bathroom I saw her and asked her to be my mentor. Okay was of those moments of course of complete embarrassment. She didn't know what to say. So I sent her a box of jelly beans and she has now advised me on a few occasions and been in our magazine. How brilliant! Courage works! Don't take no for an answer, find that yes. 

Our magazine LeadershipHQ is growing big time and is becoming a brilliant leadership resource. I asked Simon Sinek, Emma Isaacs, Peter Birtles and many more amazing leaders around the globe to be interviewed - and they all said yes. I also received a lot of No’s. The no’s never stop me. I keep focused on why I started the magazine. I wanted to make a difference in leadership. 

We also entered and were nominated for several awards (most we didn't get to the finals and my real lesson was we don't really need them either). One of the awards for empowering Women in Leadership. I sent in our entry – and due to the fact I had a number of issues personally at the time, I sent in the one with all the spelling errors. The CEO called me to say she was really surprised as the calibre of our entry, it was poor. I remember driving into the city at the time truly shocked – and very apologetic. I told her what was happening which took a lot of vulnerability and she was incredibly generous and gave me more time. When I saw we made the short list, I was completely shocked. I saw the calibre of finalists; who were just incredible and thought we didn't stand a chance. We won Second Place – and it was one of the best achievements of the year. 

I was proud I showed my vulnerability.

I went on the Mark Bouris show to talk about the magazine which took so much courage. I posted videos, reached out to him several times, tweeted – and I got the call to go on his show. I flew down and I was beyond excited. Now, I felt like I truly stuffed up and have received feedback that I didn't. I definitely held my ground, believed in myself and got some valuable advice. I left feeling really rejected. However it also gave me the determination to keep going. I remember where I started. It's okay to make a fool of yourself, it keeps you grounded. I love learning lessons.

Keeps me determined. 

Last year we decided to a launch a number of new programs around leadership and coaching due to what was happening in the market. Some worked; and some didn't. I had to take some risks. I love to innovate and at times, my creatively and innovation can get us off track. Oh well, I love to innovate. And this year we have some amazing innovations being launched. Fingers crossed they rock! Stay tuned to the market, this is so important. You need to be agile. Thing is, I remember at the start of the year wanting to change our business model, and creating a Sonia McDonald brand and site. I was advised not to. I trusted my intuition and did it anyway. It worked. Take risks. Be agile. Trust your gut. 

This year we have also collaborated and worked with the most amazing partners, associates and clients. We have also had to let go of clients and associates who did not have the same values we espouse. Can I tell you; this is so tough to do. I always have to keep it real and remember why I started doing this. Integrity and Respect are core to my leadership. My values are everything to me. 

Regardless of all our ups and downs, incredible successes and achievements, stuff ups and embarrassments (or lessons and bravery if I truly reframe them), I always keep it real. I always stay humble. I know at times we can forget why we started doing this. Growing a company, being a leader and even just day to day life can be bloody tough. We all have our stuff going on, and we are all human. Thing is we are all trying our best out there, and we never should forget we are all human. We must remember to give ourselves a break. I am compassionate to others and first of all myself. 

Whether you are a successful entrepreneur, big time CEO, well known author or even starting out as a new leader or new start up; remember why you are doing this. Remember where you started always. Think about it when someone reaches out to you or when you need to reach out to someone. We all started somewhere. And it took a great amount of courage, guts, determination and self belief. I bet you were excited –and utterly petrified too.

Bring on 2017 with its more lessons and learnings. Keep moving forward.

Happy New Year with love, Sonia

It's about the journey not the destination…