Elevate Your Mind: 2024 Mindset By: Jackie Robinson

​Happy New Year SheBosses! I have a feeling that many of you will be elevating on multiple levels this year. Over the past four years, we have been reassessing, rebranding, and rebuilding. We have experienced changes in our careers, started new businesses, re-launched businesses, and all things in between.  The number four represents support, stability, security, and consistency.  Now that we have entered 2024, expect all those things to come to pass in your personal and professional lives. You have been laying the foundation for growth and development. Now it’s time to start building on that foundation.  Every goal you reach this year will serve as a brick in the building of your own personal enterprise. Just like there are different shapes and sizes of houses on your street, everyone’s personal enterprise will be built differently and have its own structure. Therefore, don’t try to build yours like someone else’s. It’s never in our best interest to compare for similarities when it comes to building.  Instead, you should compare to find out what you need to do to distinguish your brand and set yourself apart.
As you are building your personal and professional brand and preparing to start knocking down this year’s goals, you should have guiding principles to help you focus on the right things. I want you to keep these three in mind:

1. Achievement is aligned with mindset and action.  Whatever goal you are striving to reach in your business or your career it is imperative that you nurture a mindset that will be conducive to you being able to execute the tasks that you need to execute and the strategies you need to implement. If you want to achieve anything you must believe you can achieve it and then put some action behind those thoughts. Remember, your success is your responsibility.  I don’t care how many pictures you pasted on your vision board or what you wrote in your journal. If you don’t have the mindset of ambition and resiliency to bring those things to life that vision board was nothing more than an art project. You must ACT- ALWAYS COMPLETE TASKS!

 

1. Excessive modesty will lead you straight to Imposter Syndrome-Society has perpetuated the notion that women should be modest.  We can achieve, but we should do so quietly.  We can win but minimize the celebration.  There are times when modesty is appropriate but I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to be “modest” all the time.  The danger of constantly holding back on sharing accomplishments, downplaying your skills, or using disqualifying language when speaking of your capabilities is that you start to subconsciously slip into Imposter Syndrome. You begin to believe that you’re not a big deal when you are.  You start acting like you don’t deserve to be where you are even though you worked hard and made sacrifices to get there.  You will allow other people to project their insecurities onto you with their opinions. There are some people who don’t like recognition and prefer to stay behind the scenes. They are uncomfortable talking about themselves, regardless of what they have accomplished.  That is perfectly ok. That’s their prerogative, but it doesn’t have to be yours. That is not the mindset of a woman about her business. A woman who is career and goal-driven should make sure that people know what her qualifications are.  She should share her successes in spaces where it’s impactful or where there is influence.  She should take advantage of every opportunity she has to build her credibility.  It’s not bragging, it’s providing receipts that demonstrate her abilities, which is necessary if you are a woman who wants to get ahead. You have to let the people know exactly who you are, what you have to offer, and what your value is. You can’t expect for them to automatically know. Strong and successful women in business and leadership are seen and heard. Men have no problem making their accomplishments known and women shouldn’t either. Make it a part of your plan to increase your visibility.

 

1. Purpose will always trump position-Sometimes in your transition to new levels, you may be repositioned, which can make you uncomfortable.  Other times, you may lose a position with no other immediately available.  Understand this.  You can operate in your purpose from any position or with no official position at all. The position is just one catalyst for you to function in your purpose but not the only.  Positions come and go but divine purpose is everlasting. It will be in you no matter where you are on your journey to achieve.  Whether you have a position of status or an entry-level position, or, you have lost your position/job, your true purpose will never leave you. In this season of building be more focused on your purpose so that if there is a shift in your position, you have the mindset to manage that change effectively, reassess, and keep striving toward your goals.  In this regard, your position doesn’t make you, your purpose and how you operate in it does.

 
As you elevate to new levels, your mindset should elevate as well.  The three things I just mentioned will be a part of that mindset. What got you where you are now will not necessarily take you where you are trying to go next. That “next level” thinking is vital in phase 2024. Elevation creates separation. As you grow you will be separated from some of the things you may be familiar with or that you are accustomed to. They may have once served a purpose but are not necessary for the work you need to do now. There are some things and people that should remain where they are as you advance because there will be no place for them on this new level you have reached. As you grow, everything and everyone can’t go.
 
Be bold and brave this year as you work towards making your dreams come true. Take more strategic, well-thought-out risks. Make that decision you have been avoiding. Do what you need to do for you. Go harder than you did over the last four years. Put in the work and you will reap the results.
 
 I’m rooting for you!
 
Have a She-Bossy year!

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