Walk in Your Authority & Create Your Own Success Story
One of the first people I remember telling me I couldn’t do something was a 9-year-old boy who lived in my neighborhood. He said I couldn’t catch a baseball and his coach agreed with him.
If I could catch a softball, why couldn’t I catch a baseball? A ball is a ball, I reasoned. So I slid my softball glove on and waited for the boy to hurl the baseball.
“I betcha you won’t catch it,” he laughed as he wound up and let it fly.
His coach winked at him from the sidelines as if to say, “You’ve got this all day long.”
While I may have looked ready to those who were watching this showdown, inside, the doubt was creeping in.
I started thinking . . .
He’s an awesome athlete.
He throws hard.
Maybe girls really can’t catch as well as boys.
What if the ball hits me in the head?
And the big one: His coach believes I can’t catch it. What if he’s right?
I don’t even remember seeing the ball, but when I felt the sting of that white-hot comet smack the leather of my glove, I nearly jumped out of my skin I was so elated.
I’m grateful that my 9-year-old self was brave and wise enough to find out for myself what I was capable of, rather than adopting my challengers’ beliefs as my own.
In business, people will challenge you; sometimes out of envy or malice, usually with good intentions and it’s important to discern the difference.
If something rings true in what they say, acknowledge it neutrally.
Ask yourself, What feels true about this, and how would I like to approach it going forward?
When someone you view as being in a position of authority says something to you that doesn’t sit right, it may feel scary to challenge them back. Instead of brushing your feelings under the rug, trust the energy.
Pause, reflect, and dig deeper because this is how you learn what you’re made of and write your own story.
This is essential in developing your authentic voice, which is why phase two of my three-phase coaching process is all about releasing outworn beliefs, survival patterns, and social conditioning so you can shift into new energy and possibilities.
Believing in yourself in business is crucial, yet it can be easy to give your personal power and inner authority away to others.
Trust your instincts, know your capabilities, and stand firm in your truth.
When you believe in yourself and discern the true intentions behind others’ words, you take full responsibility for your narrative and success.
What’s a recent business challenge you’ve faced where you had to trust your instincts and believe in yourself?
Share your story in the comments!
Ready to communicate boldly, lead lovingly, and make the world a better place without hiding and silencing yourself?
Take the Business Communication Assessment, then speak with Gayle, to gain clarity on what you need to create authentic connections, healthy business relationships, and a thriving business.
