Expect to Win and B.O.L.T.

Usain Bolt is described as the fastest man alive! I was recently watching the documentary on his extraordinary Olympic wins and track career. In the film, Bolt describes what happens on the track and how he wins his race. As he described it, I was hit by how much it really describes life and business for those of us entrepreneurs. Here are the 8 phases of the B.O.L.T.! 

 

The Start- Bolt describes himself as a poor starter...WHAT!!! The fastest man in the world a poor starter. Get out of here! We all know we need a good start to win, right? How you start isn't the final outcome.  If you keep moving and get yourself in a good position with the right steps, you can still win. How? It's what happens along the way. It's what you do after the start and that's the drive.  

No matter how you start, once you begin you have to keep your head down (focused), body forward and drive, drive, drive. How often do we have a bad start to our day and run up against obstacles? The way out of it is to DRIVE, feed your mind and actions with positive energy and keep moving forward. During your drive phase is not the time to stop and worry about what anyone else is doing, if you're comparing your start to others, then you're out of focus. Your check-in comes later.  

Now, GET TALL! Coming out of your drive phase is when you get tall. It's time to own your power. You can begin to pick up your pace, increase your speed. Your eyes are on the ultimate goal but you know you have a ways to go. This is where you are following your plan. Believe that you can accomplish the goal.... Yes, your product stands head and shoulders above the rest. Yes, you deserve the healthiest body. Yes, your unique gift is needed in the marketplace.  Can you pick up momentum?   

Well, believe it or not, you're half way there!!! Now, it's time to CHECK your position. Where are you in the race? Where are your colleagues (not just competitors)? This is where you find you might need encouragement, because you haven't met your goal yet but you need the cheers of your supporters to keep you fueled and in the race. Allow family... friends... clients... HWHN... to be your cheering squad and know we want you to succeed.  

Up next is your BEAST phase! Dominate your race, know that you've come a long way and you are winning. Others have started and stopped. Many never entered the race. Not only are you here, this is the strongest and most difficult part of your journey. Know that you are in it to win it and we're almost to the finish line.

As you get within arms reach of the finish line, CHECK... again. Many of us look around and say "Can I stop running?" You might be able too, except there is someone or something coming around the bend trying to catch up with you. Don't stop because the next phase is the glory.

You did it! Break the ribbon, draw that breath and do your VICTORY DANCE. You've won! Enjoy the moment and celebrate your win. Yet, here is the thing....there is always another race. Another audacious goal, a new challenge which will be met by a new victory. The last phase is to REPEAT. Bolt, raced again and beat the world record in each division! You have some records to shatter in your own life.   

So let's recap.... 

Eight phases of B.O.L.T...

Start

Drive

Check

Beast

Check, again

Victory Dance 

Repeat  

Each race, each goal begins with the start. Remember this isn't just about competing against others, your best opponent is yourself. Strive to be better than you were yesterday. What have you begun, but not finished? Do you have your cheering squad? Are you expecting to win? My challenge to you is to expect your greatness. B.O.L.T.! Believe in Opportunities to Leverage your Talent!

About the author: Sister Mothyna James-Brightful is a self proclaimed “Self Love Revolutionary”. She has spent the last decade empowering women and girls to live authentic lives. Sister Mothyna is the Visionary Director and Co-founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation. Sister Mothyna is co-author of Because I am a Queen...100 Affirmations for Daily Living and is currently working on her forth coming book Engage.Inspire. Prevent. Educating Teens on Sexual Violence. Stay connected www.hwhn.org: Twitter @mothyna

What Will You Gain When You Lose

I adore the principle of the Kellogg’s Gains Project. You’ve seen the commercials that ask the question “What Will You Gain When You Lose?” The campaign is all about women deserving to feel more beautiful and sharing positive inspiration. While, the campaign takes this personalized approach to weight loss, it makes me think of the weights that hold us back from living freely in mind, spirit and body. What will you gain when lose?  We’re often afraid that to release means that we’ll lose some key part of ourselves. But what would happen if you lose fear? Doubt? Insecurity? Thoughts of Lack? What could we gain by releasing these limits?

I recently had a conversation with a friend who lives on the West Coast. I shared how sometimes it seems like while we work hard, I doubt whether we make the impact that we desire to see in the lives of women. I’m not sure if women “get IT”, that feeling of support, accomplishment and growth. Well, in her unique no nonsense way, she sho’ put me in my place. She helped me to lose so that I could gain.

“Says who?” was her response.  She spoke from her truth, sharing that she’s attended our annual conferences and seminars since 2008. “And not cause I like ya’ miss ma’am.” Well the nerve of her, of course she likes me. Lol! I literally tried to laugh off the conversation. How many times have had awkward moments where we feel vulnerable and want to rush through the experience?

Not with my sister friend, she made me face the scale with her own level of vulnerability. She shared that our events have helped her gain renewed purpose and clarity. Her journal writing and poetry went from a dark place to light and fresh. She is healthier and feels freer to be herself, which affected her family in much the same way. But that’s not all; she’s started a successful businesses based on her passion, has made an awesome connection with a national organization for her emerging business and moved across the country (a long time dream). Her words, “I know it’s a reflection of HWHN.”

Needless to say, I was humbled. Then I felt that emotion rise from my belly and bubble out of my skin…gratitude.  Imagine if I allowed that weight to lay on my mind and heart. Often we don’t move because we’re afraid of being exposed, yet when we do, we can find freedom in that movement and greater joy where fear once lived. What we gain, when we lose is filled with amazing freedoms. The principle of gratitude, no matter! The joy of learning something new! The ability to teach what we’ve learned! The chance to change a life!

What will you gain when you lose this week? You never know the difference you’ll make in the life of another. 

About the Author: Sister Mothyna James-Brightful is a self proclaimed “Self Love Revolutionary”. She has spent the last decade empowering women and girls to live authentic lives. Sister Mothyna is the Visionary Director and Co-founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation. Sister Mothyna is co-author of Because I am a Queen...100 Affirmations for Daily Living. Stay connected www.hwhn.org: Twitter @mothyna

Successful vs Unsuccessful People

Your habits and mindset has a great influence on your success, success with finances and life. The above infographic has been circulating after MaryEllen Tribby posted it on WorkingMomsOnly.com. It goes through some great tips and habits that you should institute if you want to be successful and some that you should drop to avoid not reaching success (notice I didn't say failure). There are definitely some key elements that should be highlighted.

 

1) Continuously gather knowledge and learn things that will help you move forward. When trying to accomplish a goal, learn all that you can about the subject. Learn about the tools and resources available to you to assist with accomplishing your goal. Unsuccessful people don't actively gather information and don't act on the knowledge that they do have. There's a vast amount of information available to help you master your finances and reach financial success. Actively seek it out and apply the knowledge when you acquire it.

2) Giving to others is necessary. Don't horde what you know and don't try to step on others to reach your goals. Many people have a fear of letting others know what they know, of giving to much away. You want others to help and promote you without doing the same for others? It doesn't work that way. Share information and tools and others will be more likely to do the same with you. If you come across a great resource for saving money, cutting costs, etc share the wealth and let others know. 


3) Accept responsibility for your failure. The fact that this is listed on the successful people side of the graphic says a lot. You cannot reach success without some failures. Don't give up in the face of failure. Learn the lesson and use that failure as a stepping stone to do even better. Say you wanted to pay off your debt and made a plan to do so but along came an emergency and you had to incur more debt. Establish an emergency fund so you'll be better prepared next time and move forward.

About the Author: Dr. Maria James
Maria James has a compassion for people that makes her involvement in Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation a sure fit. She is a biomedical scientist who is public health conscience and has always worked for the betterment of others. While an undergraduate student at Johns Hopkins University she co-founded an organization called STOP, which taught basic self-defense to women and children. Her has a passion for diverse communities led her to live in Costa Rica for three weeks to learn more about the culture and community. Maria also continues to pursue her other interests which include, Spanish and finance. Maria also founded the business Pocket of Money, LLC which provides tools and tips to help you take control of your money and live your best life.

Strategic Networking – Building Your Tribe

Do you have a tribe?
 

What I mean by a tribe is the people in your network you can go to for a favor and actually expect it to be granted.

How many relationships can you maintain? You may have 10K followers on Twitter or 5K connections on LinkedIn, but how many do you really know? The number of relationships you can maintain is also known as the Dunbar Number. Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar began a study of the Christmas-card-sending habits of the English and found that they sent on average 153.5 cards each year. The number of 150 has come up over and over in society. The Amish break up communities when they reach 150. Chimpanzee families reach a maximum of 150……

Do you have 150 people in your network that you can go to for a favor?

Last week I wrote about the kinds of people you want in your network:

• Connectors
• Mentors
• Company or Industry Experts
• Peers

Take a moment to locate the LinkedIn profile of everyone you know who could be part of your tribe. Tag each profile in LinkedIn with the category that they fall under.

This may take you a week or more to think of every person and then categorize them.

Do you have 150 in your tribe?

If the answer is no then you have some work to do.

Is there an area where you are weak or have too few?

Time to strategically network to build your tribe

Leverage your network to help you develop those strategic relationships!

What is missing from your network? Too few connectors? Too few company or industry experts? Do you have one or more mentors? Do you need a mentor in a particular skill area?

Develop a list of people who you would like to meet. Who in your network knows them well enough to make an introduction? I always want an introduction to a new connection. Think of this in sales terminology as a warm lead.

Once you have an introduction, schedule either a face-to-face meeting over a cup of coffee or, if they are not local, on the phone.

What will you ask for?

You will ask for A-I-R – Advice, Insights and Recommendations.

The magic word is advice! When you ask for advice, you will rarely be turned down. It is a compliment. Ask for their insights and then ask for their recommendations. Who else should I meet? Can you make an introduction?

If you will make one outreach a week, you will find that your tribe will grow naturally and strategically.

Do you know who is in your tribe?

Do you need to grow your tribe?

About Marc Miller

Marc Miller is the founder of Career Pivot which helps Baby Boomers design careers they can grow into for the next 30 years. Marc authored the book Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers published in January 2013, which has been featured on Forbes.com, US News and World Report, CBS Money-Watch and PBS’ Next Avenue. Career Pivot was selected for the Forbes Top 100 Websites for your Career. Marc has made six career pivots himself, serving in several positions at IBM in addition to working at two successful Austin, Texas startups, teaching math in an inner-city high school and working for a local non-profit. Learn more about Marc and Career Pivot by visiting the Career Pivot Blog.