by Amy Matthews | May 7, 2018 | Business |
Are you doing what you really want to do in your life? This may be a daunting question. So many women I talk with are either unclear about what they want to be doing in their lives, or they know what it is but are afraid to actually do it. I can relate. Before I created Woman UnRuled, I knew for a long time I wanted to be a business and life-freedom coach. It took some time for things in my life to line up so I could pursue it. And honestly, I needed the confidence to make it happen.
If you are a woman who isn’t clear on what you’d like to do, here are a few ways to invite in more clarity. First, ask yourself a few questions:
* What Am I Passionate About?
* What Lights Me Up?
* What Have I Always Wanted to Do?
Once you have a long list, pick 2 or 3 which really jump out to you, try them on and test them out. Go on informational interviews, follow someone around for a day. Pretend you’re doing a research project. You’ll know whether the experience is something you want to take further. Is it a fuck yeah or just a yeah?
If something doesn’t fully light you up, that’s okay because something else will.
If it’s aFuck yeah, choose it and declare that you want it. Yep, declare it out loud. There is so much strength in our words and our voices.
Now that you know what you want to do, it’s time to get into action to make it a reality.
Develop a strategy and a plan. Work It. And most importantly, do not quit. See it through.
by Amy Matthews | May 3, 2018 | Business |
Getting clear on what you really want to do is a process. This means it takes time, effort, and patience with yourself. Once you have clarity, the next step is to develop a clear strategy and action plan to bring your idea or dream into reality.
I’ve worked with many female entrepreneurs on business strategy. Most want to fall in love with their business idea before they actually put a stake in the ground. They keep their idea close to their chest, nurture and protect it like it was a newborn child. That’s all well and good, and there is a time for that, at the beginning of the process. I’ve learned, however, that to be successful, you’ve got to be objective and not get married to any one idea.
Use the 6 D’s to test the viability of your idea:
1) Develop Your Vision for Your Company
2) Define Your Services or Products
3) Determine Your Target Market
4) Develop a Clear Value Proposition and Why It’s Better than the Competition
5) Define Your Business Model
6) Develop Your Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy
By going through these 6 steps, you’ll get a sense if your business idea has legs.
If it does, now the hard work begins. You gotta put your heart, body and soul into it. You gotta want it bad. You gotta commit. It will take blood, sweat, tears and lots of time. You gotta work it. You gotta remain flexible. You gotta ask for help. You gotta be willing to pivot. And most importantly, you gotta stay the course, even when the terrain gets rocky.
by Amy Matthews | Apr 30, 2018 | Business, Mindset |
Too much to do, too little time to do it. Does that sound familiar? You are not alone. There is so much going on in our lives and in the world today that life seems to be moving faster and faster. Many of us are so caught up rushing from one thing to the next that we forget to stop and breathe.
We all know the feeling of overwhelm and it’s not fun. It leaves us feeling stressed out and often paralyzed to take action. Or we decide to take something off our plate – the very thing we want and need most. Here are examples:
You know yoga makes you feel good but instead of going to class, you work longer or gulp down a glass of wine. Or you postpone working with a coach who can frame a new outlook and help you develop an action plan. We’ve all been there!
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, here are 5 things I do to shift:
Take a Time Out.
When you feel overwhelmed, this is when you need to take a breather! Get into your body by taking deep breaths or meditating for 5-10 minutes. Put some soothing music on. Go for a walk. All these things will help you shift.
Write it Down.
Write down what’s in your head that’s making you feel overwhelmed. Is it a work project? Life in general? Once you start writing, your overwhelm will naturally diffuse. You’ll gain perspective on how much you really have to do.
Ask Yourself: What Am I Feeling?
Overwhelm often happens not because there’s too much to handle, but because our emotions get in the way. Our feelings and emotions are what make us stressed out.
If you can, talk it out with a friend.
Take Action.
Determine your priorities. Everything doesn’t have to happen this minute! Do the things that are urgent, save the important ones to do later and delegate or outsource the things that you don’t need to do.
Be Grateful.
I bet your life is pretty incredible. It’s amazing how differently we feel when we shift our perspective from “there is so much I HAVE to do” to “there is so much I GET to do.” Give it a shot – appreciate all that you have now.
by Amy Matthews | Apr 16, 2018 | Business |
Many women in business feel the pressure to act like men, communicate like men and even dress like men. Though more prevalent in traditionally male dominated industries – like finance and venture capital – there are women in every industry that feel this pressure. At some level, whether conscious of it or not, women believe if they want to get ahead, they need to look and act a certain way.
I am not saying the pressure isn’t real – don’t get me wrong. The problem is, by buying into it, we accommodate and wear masks. We can lose touch with who we really are because we believe our authentic self isn’t ok or enough.
Here’s something that happened last week.
I was meeting with a male friend of mine in San Francisco at the Four Seasons. There was an institutional investor conference going on at the hotel so the lobby was crowded. An attractive woman, in her early 30’s, walked past us. My very observant and astute friend said, “she looks a lot older than she is wearing that”. She was in a tweed suit – imagine Chanel like. I noticed that the suit was wearing her rather than the other way around. She looked like a mannequin – awkward and lifeless. Instantly, I said:
She’s wearing what she thinks she’s supposed to wear. Not what she wants to wear.
Why?
To Not Stand Out.
To Not Rock the Boat.
For Fear She Won’t be Taken Seriously.
To Fit In with the Ol’ Boys Club.
I don’t know if you can relate but I can. I remember the navy blue, double breasted, wool suit I wore in my 20’s! At the time, with my short bob, I thought I had it going on. Through experience and time, I’ve learned – in business and in life:
Show Up Authentically.
Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin.
Communicate Confidently and Clearly.
Wear What Makes You Feel Good and Right for the Situation.
Unless we start changing our behavior, nothing will change. We can’t expect men to change, old structures to change or the old boy network to change. Women need to courageously lead the change. If we want things to be different, whether at work or at home, we’ve gotta show up authentically, in our power, in our brilliance and grace. And ask for what we want and need. Once we fully step up and show up to ourselves, men will take our lead.
There’s no better version of yourself than the real YOU. Be Yourself – ALWAYS.
Realize the power you have – in all aspects of your life.
Btw, the word Courageous comes from the French word Coeur..which means Heart.
by Amy Matthews | Apr 2, 2018 | Business, In-Power |
Who you are being has a lot to do with your success, in all aspects of life. The truth is, we are all leaders. Each one of us has a choice on how we show up everyday, in every situation.
Here are my Top 8 Leadership Skills for Everyday Life:
1. Be Authentic, Real and Confident.
Feel comfortable in your own skin and stay true to who you are, no matter what. Have strong convictions, clear intentions and be willing to stand up for what you believe in.
2. Be Accountable and Committed.
The buck stops with you. No excuses or scapegoats. Be accountable for the choices you make and 100% committed – to your relationships and whatever you do.
3. Trust your Intuition and Communicate.
Use your intuition. Listen and connect. Size up the situation, access your feelings and communicate your truth with clarity and compassion.
4. Understand the Value of Time.
Your most precious resource is your time. Know what matters to you most and prioritize your time accordingly. Don’t waste your time or the time of others.
5. Be Kind and Earn People’s Trust.
Treat everyone with respect, whether it’s loved ones, colleagues or someone you just met. Make every encounter matter and memorable.
6. Be an Example for Others.
Own your brilliance, love yourself and embody your power. People are attracted to presence and positive energy. Inspire others to be the very best that they can be.
7. Be Flexible and Resilient.
Things change. Be flexible and willing to alter your plan. When shit hits the fan, pivot.
Don’t get attached to a certain outcome.
8. Plan and Take Decisive Action.
Know who are, what you want and where you want to go. Once you do, take decisive action. Never let your fear or doubt stop you from manifesting what you really want.
Be the Leader of Your Life.
Be the Leader of Others.
Be the Inspiration.
by Amy Matthews | Feb 12, 2018 | Business, In-Power |
#1 Start Your Day with a Positive Attitude.
Get out of your head and into your body: whatever that means for you. It might be going for a run or walk, taking a spin or yoga class or simply being quiet and meditating. Your intention is to be grounded, present, confident and ready to face the day.
#2 Be Authentic and Stay True to Who You Are.
When I was in my 20’s, I had an interview with an executive who would eventually hire me for my first sales manager job. He asked me, how will I change if I make a lot of money? It was an interesting question. Was he asking me, would the money go to my head? The truth is, my values have never changed, despite periods of my career where I’ve earned a lot of money. Perhaps your lifestyle changes when you have more money, but your values don’t have to. You are the same person at work as you are at home so show up in business as your authentic self.
#3 It’s Not About the Hours. It’s About Results.
Don’t stay up late working because “everyone else is doing it”. I learned early in my sales leadership career to never confuse activity with results. It wasn’t about how many sales calls I went on. It was about making sure each one had a successful outcome. Don’t get me wrong, I spent my fair share of late nights at the office early in my career. But ultimately, it’s all about performance – how much you can make happen in a given timeframe, not the actual time you put into it.
#4 Don’t Concerned About Being Liked.
Listen. We all want people to like us. But don’t make it a priority at the expense of realizing what you want to accomplish. If others are uneasy with your success or feel insecure around you, it’s not your job to make them feel comfortable. Of course, self awareness and grace go a long way. But in general, I suggest: own your confidence, leadership and charisma and be a role model for others around you.
#5 Know What You Want.
I’m one of those people that gets passionately attached to an idea. Once I do, I’ve been known to have an unrelenting focus to make it happen. Picture a dog with a bone – assertive! You don’t need the same fervor, but you do need a clear vision of what you want to create and a strategy and plan to get you there. You can always change a plan, but if you don’t have a plan to begin with, it’s hard to change, right?
#6 Ask for It.
Once you’re clear on what it is that you want, ask your potential client, boss or employee, for whatever it is. “I’d like to build a strategic partnership with you and your company”, “I’d like to manage a sales team focused on this vertical”, “I’d like to work with you”, “I’d like to be promoted to VP, here’s why I’ve earned it”. You can’t expect things you want to happen magically. You have to Ask. Also, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know what you could have gained.
#7 Compete with Yourself.
It’s easy to put energy into what your colleagues or friends are doing or achieving. Many company cultures thrive on promoting competition among their workforce. I say, stay focused on the activities that will bring YOU the results you want. Giving your attention to others takes your eye off the prize of being the best you can be. And here’s the thing: your experience, values, strengths, skills, passions and your DNA are totally unique. Embrace your individuality, and it will lead to your ultimate success. Don’t compete with others: compete with yourself.
#8 Don’t Expect a Certain Outcome.
This is a controversial statement. I’m a huge believer in having high standards, a clear vision, and specific goals to get you where you want to go. Simultaneously, I’ve learned to not expect a certain outcome. Business expectations are a breeding ground for disappointment. Shit happens within your own company and often with your clients. Expectations of a product launch happening on time or revenues coming in at a specific time – you get the drill. Be open to how situations unfold and always have a plan B. If you remain flexible, the outcome may be better than you anticipated.
#9 Ask for Forgiveness. Not Permission..
The maverick in me likes this one. Truth be told, you’ve got to learn to use your instincts to be successful in business, and that requires making gut level decisions. If you’re waiting for someone to tell you what to do, you’re probably in the wrong role or place. The more you rely on your instincts and intuition, along with your real life experience, the better you’ll be at making sound business decisions.
#10 Speak Up.
If you have ideas that can improve your company’s performance, announce them! I don’t mean endlessly offering information that hasn’t been requested. But if you have feedback on ways to do things better, propose a thoughtful solution. The only way companies can get better is if employees and customers provide their honest, constructive feedback.
#11 Go for It.
Taking risks isn’t for everyone. Fear is what usually prevents us from doing something that is uncomfortable. Common thoughts can be “what if I fail”, “what if it’s the wrong decision”, “what will people think of me.” Be aware of your fears, acknowledge them, just don’t let them stop you from going after what you really want! Change the conversation in your head to: “I might be intimidated, but this will work! I so got this!”
If you are an entrepreneur or an executive, I can help you align with your business goals for your ultimate success. Check out my business coaching options here.
I also offer a complimentary 30 minute coaching session. You can sign up right here.
