Wise words from well-experienced and well-educated women that I have worked alongside in my career have been on my mind as of late.
As I have began this transition from a career in education to newfound entrepreneurship, their words continue to echo and whisper in such a way in my mind that I feel it necessary to share them with you in hopes that they may prove beneficial in your own life in a similar way that they have in mine.
4 Statements that Sound Success
1) "The way a person walks tells you how they work."
This statement caught me by surprise once in a conversation with a fellow female colleague. Yet, as soon as she began explaining her statement, it made complete sense to me....and I agreed wholly based on my own personal experiences. An individual that typically walks at a quicker pace is on a mission. They are focused. They are driven. They know exactly what they are walking towards and are confident in their path. They move fast in their careers, not making excuses, not slowing down or delaying progress when challenges arise. They take responsibility for their own decisions and actions and oftentimes, that of team members. I encourage you to put this to the test in your own life. Notice those around you. Does their pace match that of their work ethic? Do those you collaborate with in the office with a quick step tend to run circles around their peers in terms of productivity and impact?
2) "The way to build wealth is to make money while you sleep."
I wonder how many billionaires and millionaires in our country would agree with this statement. And I would particularly love to hear Codie Sanchez' thoughts on this. (Her book is on my list to read this year, and I LOVE hearing her thoughts around wealth and money.) While I do not personally believe that money and success go hand-in-hand in this life, the concept this statement is centered around can be applied to so many aspects of one's life in such a way that it continues to ring true for all. What are you building even within sleep? The words you spoke to someone earlier in the day may be building them up to take that next career leap, something they are sitting at home stewing on at midnight while you sleep peacefully in the comfort of your sheets at home.
3) "Your first thought is not your own. Your second thought belongs to you."
A graduate professor of mine made this statement once and it immediately made an impact - so much so, that I can recall the statement years later easily and still think of it often in my own personal life. Her explanation of this statement was that oftentimes our first thoughts, our initial thoughts, on a subject or situation come from our upbringing, the guidance we received as children, our training, so to speak. The second thought that comes into our minds is the one that aligns with who we are as individuals at our core, that fits perfectly with our own belief system and values, the ones we chose for ourselves, not the ones that were chosen for us as children. I sat across the table from a dear friend of mine only a few short days ago as we grabbed a quick adult brunch without the kids (first time ever!), and I found myself repeating this statement to her. The way these words have proven true over and over again in my life, and the reaction I receive from others when I share these words speaks directly to their truth and effect.
4) "It's not about who you know, it's about who knows you."
This was a rather common statement made by several of my professors and mentors during my undergraduate years. While I understood the statement even then, it took on a whole new meaning as I continued to age and make various moves in my career. The statement shifted for me with age and followed more with a "why would someone remember me or what would make someone remember me?". After several years of collaborating with a variety of professionals, men and women, from diverse backgrounds and experiences with differing ways of leading, this is what I learned - be exactly who you are and be in the place and position that fits perfectly with your passions and interests. Initially, my understanding of being successful in one's career centered directly on a very specific type of professionalism that placed a veil over one's personality in such a way that made many individuals around me look and feel the same. It didn't just look fake to me, it felt fake. I entered into rooms that lacked innovation and insight, even though they possessed the "image" of success. And yet, I continued to be fortunate enough to be in the presence of a small collective of individuals that broke that mold, true mavericks, as you might say. These were the individuals that people remembered, even though that was in no way, shape, or form their goal or desire. It was a natural by-product based on their true personality that shown through because they were aligning their places and positions with their passions and interests. They were direct, honest, insightful, and oftentimes spoke truths individuals didn't want to hear out loud, but knew to be true. There was an admiration for those individuals' courage and honesty, because those living under that veil as they understood success to look had not been exemplifying that level of courage and honesty, even though many of them had those characteristics and capabilities within them.
As the mother of a daughter, I cling to and hold tight words of wisdom to share with my little girl in much the same way she clings to me when she's upset. I read rich words, reflect on their meaning, and assess their value and truth. In the most unexpected moments, they also arise in me in ways that lead me to finding myself quickly typing them out in the Notes section of my iPhone or saving them in my Future Blog Post section of my Canva account.
What wise words have been shared with you from well-experienced women?
I truly would love to know!
Comment or send me an email at whobrey@whobreythreads.com to share!
I promise I'll cherish and hold your words with great value! And I'll probably add them to my "Quotes" book - an idea that a student of mine gave me years ago that I still have on my bookshelf in my office today. Some of the best ideas do come from our young people...
*P.S. - If there is a specific topic you would love for me to focus on for an upcoming blog post, send me an email at whobrey@whobreythreads.com and let me know!
At WHOBREY, our mission is to help women build lives that they love that will leave a timeless and beautiful legacy well beyond their days of breath. We believe being timeless, classic, and elegant should and does extend well beyond one's sense of style. Our clothing line is just a piece of a large puzzle and vision that our company and brand is founded on.
If there is a blog post idea you have centered around that focus, I would love your recommendation!