Are You Ready To Level Up Your Career?

"Set a goal so big that you can't achieve it until you grow into the person who can." - Unknown

You’ve heard the expression GO BIG…OR GO HOME!

Life demands that we play BIG! It doesn’t shrink from giving us all it’s got, so why should we give it any less.

Why would you want to play small?? And yet, we do.

In my years of working with high achieving individuals, no matter how much success they have achieved, there is still a mindset of playing small, not taking their game to the highest level, and not seeking out the opportunities that will stretch them beyond their current comfort zone.

Each us is born with extraordinary potential.?

Within us is the power to explore and develop our inner strengths, our intellect, and to create powerful meaning and influence in all that we do.

Playing a bigger game means you are hungry for something more.

You are searching for fulfillment, and you are searching for greater meaning and purpose.

You want to share the fruits of your knowledge and experience with others, and make a difference in the world.

That’s leveling up your career and life.

Being in your greatness doesn’t mean you are better than others. It simply means you are living authentically.

You are living from the core of your being, stripped of all false beliefs, facades, and limitations you have placed on yourself.

It is the place of power that exists within all of us. But so many are afraid to go there.

When you live into the expansion of that energy it can be a scary place because there is nowhere to hide.

But why would you want to?

What do you have to hide?

You are a magnificent being in mind, body and spirit, and the only person who can make you less than that is YOU!

It took me a long time to realize that because I was constantly giving my power away to other people. I made them greater than me. I made them more talented, more beautiful, more caring, more, more, more.

What I was really saying was... “I’m not good enough.”?

When you give your power in other people they will willingly take it.

We spend a great deal of our time and attention seeking approval and validation when what we are asking is "am I ok?"

In the 1970s Sally Field, who up until then had an illustrious career, accepted an Oscar for her role in Places in the Heart. It was memorable because she said, amidst tears and laughter, "...and I can't deny that you like me, you like me."

She had fought the 'good enough' syndrome for years, and this acceptance of self was validated by her peers.

When we are caught up in insecurity we rely on others to validate our existence.

Stepping away from that is a huge challenge, but it can be done if there is a will to do so.?

No matter how successful we are, we all have self-limiting beliefs.

Many high-level individuals struggle with inner demons, self-doubt and lack of value.

The sad fact is that for many, there is a small voice inside that says I will never good enough. Or, I’ll never be lovable.

This is the stuff that most people don’t get to see, but we get to feel.

It’s the core of most of our fears.

In the early days of my career I played small, and it didn’t serve my clients, and it certainly didn’t serve me.

I consistently underplayed my strengths and it took me a long time to understand that I was more than competent than I gave myself credit for.

In fact, I was really good at what I did, and in moments of clarity I could feel it.

After all, I had written three books, sung in front of thousands over the years, earned a black belt in karate, and red belt in Tae Kwon Do, raised a family, and lived in many different countries before I started my career as advisor to high-achievers.

It was simple. Contrary to the evidence, I didn’t believe in me.

?It was clear that I was playing small in order to protect myself from the imagined ridicule, rejection or dismissal that would come from stepping up to the plate and saying, “Yes, I know what I’m doing. Yes, I’m pretty good at this. Yes, I have much to learn, but I’m excited to be still growing, and I look forward to it.

As one wise teacher told me, “you will truly come into your own when you can reach a place where the approval of others is no longer necessary.”?

In leveling up my game, I realized I was sharing my gifts with the world and they were important and I didn't need to be validated by others.

It took some time, maybe more than I want to admit, but I can confidently say, I’ve reached that place.

You level up your game when you choose to be surrounded by people who are already playing at the top of their game, or you are creating something that is beyond your limited and local presence.

You level up your game when you are willing to risk all to make a difference in the world. When you take risks beyond your comfort zone, and start living your purpose.

You cannot move into your greatness without confronting your fears.

Pushing through the hard times, staying with it, challenging yourself to do better. To be better.

Creating a vision, developing insights, building trust, appreciating the journey, and leaving a legacy of courage, strength and endurance makes you a powerful role model.

There are six fundamental behaviors that level up your career and life.

Commitment, Focus, Discipline, Follow-Through, Consistency and Perseverance.

Think about that for a moment? Where do you apply these in your business, or your career?

Commitment: Are you fully committed? Is there any procrastination going on, or are you disengaged? How do you stay motivated? Are you committed to success?

Focus: Do you focus on the things that matter most? Can you see the whole picture, or a small part? Are you even looking in the right place?

Discipline: Are you disciplined each day to show up and do what you have to do even when you don’t want to do it?? Have you formed habits that are positive and uplifting?

Follow-Through: How about your follow-through? Are there unfinished projects? People you need to connect with, or people who have fallen through the cracks of your unorganized or overly busy life?

Consistency: Are you consistent most of the time. Let’s face it, most of us could use help in this area. What habits keep you on track? Where do you show up inconsistently at work, in your relationships, in your plan for the future.

?Perseverance: And lastly, there is perseverance. What happens when you fail? What do you do to get back on track? How do you manage your expectations? What keeps you going?

All of these traits are essential if you are to level up your game.

Being mindful of your own growth is the first step to being a great leader.

If you want to be the role model for others to follow set a great example of what it is to be fully committed to your role as a leader.

Stay focused on the important things and filter out the unnecessary.

Be disciplined to do the things you say you will do and follow-through on your commitments by being available to your team.

Above all, be consistent in how you show up so there is no ambiguity, and others have a clear vision of what you expect from them.

Learn how to use your strengths and show perseverance when things go wrong, or don’t work out the way you wanted them to.

Be willing to speak up for what you believe in, and make decisions that you don't second-guess.

Communicate your needs and desires with clarity, and don't ask permission because you deserve to receive what you want.

Be kind to yourself, and to others, and you will find people want to reciprocate. There is goodness in everyone.

Being a great leader is not just about what you say, but what you do, and who you want to be.

So here's my invitation to you.

Set your course for 2024 to be the best year yet, and find the greatness within you to level up your career and life.

If you need help ask for it. Don't think you can figure it out by yourself. None of us achieve greatness without the help of others.

If you're ready to level up your team performance this year I provide extraordinary transformational programs that accelerate growth in high-achieving individuals from day one! "...After working with Jacqueline my confidence and self-respect have improved more than in the past 20 years."

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