Throughout my years of professional experience, I have noticed finding young professionals who have stepped into their greatness is few and far in between. I have seen a handful of these rising stars that are fearless in getting results and demand to be heard. However, I have seen more who accept the status quo and stay away from rocking the boat. Not too long ago I was that girl and for many reasons. Due to my lack of experience, I did not have much confidence in what I knew or what I was capable of. I was actually afraid to be my true self because of how others might perceive me. It was my goal to make sure people felt comfortable in my presence, which required me to tone it down or play the background so others can shine. Ultimately, my frustrations piled up because I knew I was denying the world my greatness. Consequently, in order to find true fulfillment and happiness in every day, I had to get comfortable in accepting my #blackgirlmagic.
This was easier said than done because I really didn’t consider myself outspoken or even a leader. Some people are meant to lead and some are meant to follow, and I pretty much accepted my place. However, something inside of me told me that I was limiting myself and that I was putting on an act that did not truly represent me. Why didn’t I believe in my talents? Why was my voice not important? Why was I afraid to challenge things I did not agree with? Why wasn’t I asking for what I deserve? The answer was simple. I was letting fear order my steps and actions and I had to really dig deep inside of myself to find that fire in me that didn’t let fear stand in the way.
To rise above fear there were many things that inspired and empowered me to speak up and gain the confidence to be who I am today. Below are five tips that helped me discover my greatness and become the valuable young professional I knew I was meant to be.
Being young doesn’t make you dumb.
Being a young professional can be a gift and a curse. You may not be as seasoned as your colleagues however young professionals bring a lot of new and fresh ideas to the table. Finding the confidence to share these ideas can be tough because you may feel like no one is giving you the chance to be awesome. Just remember while you may not have been in your industry for 10+ years you are not too far removed from your education. You also can bring value in regards to what’s trending and what the next wave is. Don’t wait around for someone to see your greatness. Do your research, take every opportunity to present what you know, and don’t be afraid to demand your seat at the table.
Never apologize for who you are. It lets the whole world down." – Jen Sincero
Accept you and don’t dim your light. Oftentimes, we want to change who we are to please other people. We think that who we are is not good enough and we have to fit in a box to be a “model” employee. However, the most successful people I have seen do not apologize for who they are. They stand in their greatness and require other people to accept it. There is no one else like you, be proud of who you are.
“We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn.
Stop hanging around losers and join a winning circle. If I am the smartest person in a room, I am in the wrong room. You have to surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you to be successful. If your current circle accepts you being mediocre, it is time to re-evaluate who you spend your time with. I decided to build relationships with people who were game changers, go-getters, and visionaries. These were individuals who exuded an elite level of confidence that was unmatched and were high-performing. Always keep those close who want you to succeed, will give you tough love and will lead by example. Just being around those people will force you into eliminating fear and leveling up.
Get Uncomfortable.
Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be the scariest thing ever, but it is necessary. For many years I just played it safe and with that, I did not see the results I wanted. I was comfortable but I wasn’t happy. I would look around and see so many other people doing incredible things and the difference between me and them was they got uncomfortable. They were able to achieve high levels of innovation, creativity, and excellence just by going beyond the norm and not being complacent. Strive to do things that challenge you. Even if you are scared, do it anyway. Magic comes outside of your comfort zone.
"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent." —Madeleine Albright
Speak Up! Your voice is so important and you should never downplay it. You may feel like things are not going well at work, but if you don’t voice your concerns nothing will change. Don’t live in regret and wish you could have said something. Your moment is now and this opportunity will not be around forever for your voice to be heard. Whatever goals in life you have, you must be fearless enough to communicate it confidently. No one will give you the credit you deserve if you fail to speak up for yourself. Always commit to the three F’s. FIND your voice, have FAITH in your voice and FOLLOW your voice.
On your road to becoming the professional you want to be, take ownership for your greatness and rise above the young professional stigma. Remember to show up like you were meant to be here and have the confidence to stand out.
