Rejection is a universal experience that we all share. Everyone has been rejected at one time or another in both personal or professional spheres. Whether it's a job application, a pitch to potential investors, or a creative endeavor, the sting of rejection can be disheartening. What's even more powerful than rejection itself is the fear it instills. The fear of rejection can paralyze us, preventing us from taking risks, pursuing our passions, and ultimately, choosing ourselves over fear.

Self-esteem and self-worth play a pivotal role in business success. Studies have shown that individuals with high self-esteem tend to be more resilient, confident, and better equipped to handle challenges, making them more likely to persevere in the face of adversity. According to research by the University of Florida, entrepreneurs with a strong sense of self-worth are more likely to take risks and seize opportunities - leading to higher overall business and personal growth.

I was in a high energy role in the Capital City of New Zealand, working along side a well regarded and respected CEO and I just didn’t have a chance to even B-R-E-A-T-H-E! I’d been experiencing a bit of anxiety but nothing that a glass of wine couldn’t fix - after all, there were many people relying on me to meet deadlines and perform.

Confidence is the fuel that propels entrepreneurs forward, enabling them to take calculated risks and overcome adversity. It's the unwavering belief in the vision and the determination to see it through, even when confronted with skepticism or setbacks. Competence in entrepreneurship translates into the tangible skills, knowledge, and experience required to build and run a successful business. It involves a deep understanding of the industry, market, and competition, as well as the ability to manage resources, adapt to changing circumstances, and solve complex problems.

Success often hinges not only on innovative ideas and effective strategies but also on personal attributes and connections - this is where the concept of Identity Capital comes in. Who you are, what you bring to the table, and the networks you cultivate play a big part of the concept of identity capital and are just as valuable as any business plan or product - these attributes help empower and drive aspiring entrepreneurs toward achievement.

Success in business is often associated with innovation, strategy, and adaptability. While these factors are undoubtedly crucial, there is one element that stands out as a true differentiator: capitalization on unique talents and abilities. Just as businesses capitalize on financial investments, they can also harness the power of individual strengths. This approach not only promotes personal growth but can also significantly impact the trajectory of a company or an individual’s entrepreneurial journey.

There I was in a great leadership role in beautiful Southwest Florida managing a lovely team of women who I had the privilege of not only leading but having fun with every day. The catch was, I had not 1 but 4 bosses! I’ll come back to that in a moment.

All I wanted was to spend my days leading and building relationships with my team and strategizing ways for them to be more successful! Because when THEY won, we all won!

The journey itself is a treasure trove of wisdom and transformation -it's not just about the destination. We all know setting and achieving goals is a cornerstone of success - especially in business. If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it every time. However, there's a psychological trap that many individuals fall into, known as "arrival fallacy." This occurs when the anticipation and excitement of reaching a specific goal overshadows the reality of the journey itself.

The human brain is a marvel of complexity, consisting of approximately 86 billion neurons intricately connected through an intricate web of synapses. If you want better memory, higher cognitive abilities including faster learning capabilities and access to better problem solving initiatives then there is one crucial element of your brain you need to know about.

There I was sitting in a fancy office overlooking the skyline of Zurich, traveling for work and running from meeting to meeting. I was living the dream I'd always longed for.

I could not stop thinking, “Is this really it…?! Is this what I dreamed my life would be like working for a prestigious international company?”

Did you know investing in yourself can inadvertently trigger a scarcity mindset? It can bring up feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. Scarcity refers to the feeling of lack (think insufficient resources like material, emotional, or intellectual) when it comes to meeting our needs and goals. When we perceive a lack of something vital, our decision-making processes become altered, leading to irrational and fear-driven choices.

Do you often find you’re stuck in too much detail when you want to be making the “big picture” goals come to life? Or do you find you’re often thinking about ways to refine that system or process so that you can gain more efficiency, even at the cost of your overall vision? You’re either in Owner or Operator mindset.

Making your customers feel special long after the sale is a key way to ensure business success.

Most of us are hyperconnected and have difficulty creating space between our devices so that we can unwind. This can lead to feelings of burnout, stress and exhaustion.

Research also suggests that the highest form of motivation is Mission Motivation. It stands to reason then, that if you know your why and you know what mission you support, you can become highly motivated to bring it about. The most successful people in the world (such as Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Elon Musk to name a few), have similarities that we can all tap into.

Everything else disappears and there’s just what’s right in front of you. This is flow state. It’s an actual state that can be measured in your brain. This state is also called transient hyper-frontality which is a neuroscientific term meaning your prefrontal cortex is temporarily quietened while you allow your creative self to take over.

Having freedom to choose feels great. Being creative feels great. Feeling motivated feels great. We all start off this way at the beginning of the year, at the beginning of that new project or start up, at the beginning of that new relationship. Then life gets in the way, we forget what motivated us in the first place, we suffer a few set backs and reality sinks in. The fact is, life is drab without motivation, inspiration and transformation. You’ve got to be motivated to be in business but how do you stay motivated when times get tough?

The opportunities for increasing revenue are only limited by your imagination and your intimate knowledge of your target market.

It all starts with you. “What’s the opportunity here” is how you start to cultivate a growth mindset. This is especially important when life is throwing us around like a small ship on a turbulent sea. When you’re needing to bring in more income or to increase your customer base, look for the opportunity to add more value and don’t be afraid to charge for it!

Problems are part of life and unfortunately, as the saying goes, people with no problems are no longer here to tell us about them. Life will always test us in some form and its really our ability to problem solve that allows us to have a quality of life we can feel comfortable, confident and proud of.

The facts remain the same - too much stress and burn out occurs, too little stress and productivity goes down. So where is the sweet spot? According to the World Economic Forum, stress does give us better focus but only up to a point. That sweet spot is really up to the individual or the organisation to ensure “going the extra mile” isn’t having a toll on health and wellbeing.