In this post you will learn to stop fearing success so it doesn’t sabotage your growth any more. You’ll also be inspired by other ambitious, successful women who went BIG and manifested success.
Stop fearing success. It’s a lie that being successful leads to stress and ruins your personal life. Instead, thinking that success is a big, scary monster will sabotage your growth. So, let’s pop a pin in it and embrace success.
We’ve been duped into believing that larger-than-life dreams are nightmares in disguise. This grand deception instills in you a fear of colossal success, nudging you to shirk away from your ambitions or even, in unfortunate circumstances, sabotage your own victories. Pondering upon gargantuan achievements, maybe you’re bogged down by visions of complexity, convoluted processes, and long, laborious journeys. If you’re one among the many who feel a surge of anxiety at the thought of soaring high, let’s pause and reevaluate these ingrained beliefs.
Think Big, Be Big
An intriguing fact about human potential is that it’s unknowable, the upper limit of our capabilities remains a mystery until we try to reach it. And thus, your worry about your capacity for success is but an exercise in futility. Once you begin to perceive the vastness of your potential, your perspective towards the concept of ‘big’ begins to evolve. ‘Big’ no longer stands as a formidable fortress but transforms into a playground brimming with possibilities.
Your desire to achieve something monumental is not a burden but the essential propeller that keeps you moving towards extraordinary results. It’s a journey demanding relentless action, sure, but the key is to let those actions be driven by expansive thinking. Link this bridge, and the importance of the size of your thoughts becomes clear.
Embrace Growth On Your Journey To Big
The journey to achieve something monumental is more than just reaching an endpoint. It’s about evolving along the way. As you move towards your ‘Big’, you’ll notice an undeniable transformation within yourself. You’ll grow and evolve. Challenges are reduced to manageable molehills in contrast to the person you’re becoming. You become a better version of yourself, equipped with more skills and refined thinking.
The Art Of Embracing Big
Do not dread big, instead fear the ordinary. Fear the prospect of a life not lived to its fullest potential. Failure, an integral part of your journey towards success, is an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. Look at it as a stepping stone towards your true potential, not as a sign of defeat.
The crux in the pursuit of greatness lies in BEGINNING your journey. Choose your goal and make strides towards it, little by little, consistently. Even when the excitement wanes and the road ahead seems long and tiresome, keep your foot on the gas. Move forwards.
The Power Of Focus
To attain success, you need to zero in on the most critical aspect of each domain in your life. Your destiny is a tapestry woven from the threads of your decisions, and a life led with intent is the most powerful and rewarding. Life’s true wealth lies in living your life on purpose..
Finding your purpose and sticking to it is the glue that keeps you on the path even when the journey gets sticky. Ask yourself, what is the one thing I can do that would mean the most to me and make everything else easier?
Prioritize For Success
To succeed, focus on the most important thing in each area of your life. Success is about stringing together powerful moments. What you do now will determine your future. Prioritize productive actions to get extraordinary results. Use time blocking and batching to focus on your most important tasks. Shake off your fear, think big, and go chase your dreams. It’s time to bask in some of your well earned success.
Ambitious, Successful Women Who Went BIG
Leena Nair, Global Ceo Chanel – A Woman Of Many ‘firsts’
Born and raised in Kolhapur, a small town in India, Leena Nair harbored dreams that were considered unconventional for women in her context. Nevertheless, she was not one to shy away from aiming high. Her journey began with an MBA from XLRI, one of India’s top business schools, paving her path towards the corporate world. She joined Unilever, where she encountered a series of challenges and growth opportunities.
At Unilever, she often found herself to be the only woman in the room. “It was tough. I was often the only woman in the room,” she recollected. However, her perseverance, focus, and steadfast vision led her to become the first female, first Asian, and youngest-ever Chief HR Officer at Unilever
As a leader, Nair leveraged her position to drive change within the organization. She championed diversity, equality, and inclusivity, transforming the organizational culture and setting a new precedent for leadership. Her extraordinary journey continued as Leena Nair followed ‘Mentor’ Nooyi’s path, and took charge at Chanel as its global CEO, redefining leadership, and driving transformative changes at one of the world’s most iconic fashion houses. Leena is Chanel’s first woman chief and one of the few women of color in the industry’s exclusive leadership ranks.
Leena Nair’s journey from a small Indian town to the top echelons of the corporate world is a testament to the power of vision, focus, and resilience. Her story serves as an inspiration to women globally, proving that no dream is too big, and no barrier is too high when one is willing to work relentlessly towards it.
Trinny Woodall, CEO Trinny London – A Midlife Beauty Maven
First up Trinny Woodall has built a $250 million beauty empire in four years which she launched when she was 50, yes that’s midlife and mid perimenopause. I say all hail the bold rise of Trinny Wodall.
“Always that thing of an entrepreneur, when do you get it out of your head and onto the kitchen table?” (Trinny Woodall)
Trinny Woodall’s story is one of overcoming personal and professional obstacles to reach remarkable heights. Early in her life, Woodall faced drug and alcohol addiction, a struggle she managed to overcome. So you can see that her journey was most definitely not a smooth one. Yet, Woodall stood firm, believing in her vision and capability.
With a hearty laugh, Trinny recalls her early career in commodities trading, a path she detested but thought she ‘should’ follow. A classic case of square peg, round hole. Then came the dot-com era. The whiff of something big, fresh, and groundbreaking was irresistible. She leapt in, raised a whopping $9.6 million in a blink, and tasted the intoxicating allure of entrepreneurship.
But then, the bubble burst. Despite the setback, she didn’t let the crash tarnish her spirit. Instead, she learned – learned the value of restraint, the significance of measured growth. So, when Trinny London was just a spark of an idea, she pledged to raise only what was needed and to build her teams cautiously, applying the wisdom born from past scars. And boy, did it pay off!”
“I don’t like to make mistakes, but I am not afraid of them,” she shared, reflecting her outlook towards challenges. Woodall’s big break came with the British television show ‘What Not to Wear.’ Along with Susannah Constantine, she guided women towards personal style and body acceptance, garnering a significant following.
Woodall capitalized on her success and built a thriving personal brand. She ventured into the business world with her makeup line, Trinny London, targeting women of all ages, skin types, and tones. She shares fashion advice and life experiences on social media platforms, in her inimitable style, creating an authentic connection with her audience.
Trinny Woodall’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, resilience, and a clear, unwavering focus. It showcases how you can turn personal hardships into stepping stones for success, making a lasting impact in your chosen sphere. I love the fact that Trinny eschews using models on her website in favor of featuring ‘real’ women of all ages, including those in their 40s to 80s. I love Trinny London!
Priyanka Chopra – Global Superstar On Breaking Barriers
Born in Jamshedpur, India, Priyanka Chopra’s journey to global stardom was fraught with challenges and learnings. After winning the Miss World crown in 2000, she found herself in the world of Bollywood. As a newcomer, she had to navigate through an industry marked by intense competition and embedded stereotypes.
Chopra faced her fair share of prejudice and stereotyping, often based on her beauty queen image. Despite the initial hurdles, she was determined to prove her mettle. She honed her acting skills, diversified her roles, and demonstrated her versatility as an artist. “I didn’t want a Plan B. I was not afraid to walk into a room and introduce myself,” Chopra reflected in an interview.
Her tenacity and strategic focus paid dividends. She became one of Bollywood’s highest-paid actresses and a recipient of several awards. But her ambition extended beyond India’s shores. Chopra ventured into Hollywood, breaking stereotypes, and carving a niche for herself. Today, she stands as a mother, a global icon, an award-winning actress, a producer, and a philanthropist.
Chopra has not limited her success to the entertainment industry alone. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and a vocal advocate for girls’ education. Whether it’s producing inclusive content through her production company, Purple Pebble Pictures, or advocating for social causes, her journey is a testament to the power of focus, hard work, and courage.
Martha Stewart – Queen Of Crafting A Domestic Empire & Covergirl
Martha Stewart, a familiar face in millions of homes, started her journey as a girl with a passion for cooking and homemaking. After a stint as a stockbroker, she followed her heart and started a catering business.
Her life changed when she wrote her first book ‘Entertaining’, turning her into a domestic guru. She then launched the ‘Martha Stewart Living’ magazine and TV show, which made her a household name and a billionaire.
However, her road has been very rocky. In 2004, she faced prison for insider trading. But true to her resilient nature, she bounced back, using her setback as a stepping stone to rebuild her empire. Martha Stewart’s journey is a lesson in perseverance, agility, and the unwavering pursuit of passion.
She also became Sports Illustrated’s oldest cover model ever, posing for the magazine’s 2023 annual swimsuit edition at the age of 81. She’s a reminder that your greatest setbacks can also be the foundation for your most remarkable comebacks.
My Nugget of Wisdom
Wim Hof, the ‘Iceman,’ once said, “Feeling is understanding.” I’ve referred to this phrase often as I navigate my own entrepreneurial journey. Much like embracing the extreme cold, envisioning gargantuan success can be chilling and uncomfortable. But just as Wim teaches us to lean into that discomfort, you must do the same with your vision and goals.
Instead of being paralyzed by success, let yourself feel it, understand it, and allow it to invigorate you. Because only when you’ve truly experienced and accepted the breadth of your ambitions can you start to chip away at that icy wall of fear and let the warmth of success seep in.
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