Several years ago, a video that Misty Copeland, one of the greatest premier ballerinas of all time, crossed my path on social media. She is a lovely, smart, giving person, and if you’ve never seen her dance, you should look her up. Even if you’re not a fan of ballet, you will soon become a fan of Misty.
In the video, Misty is addressing young dancers, giving them advice about what it takes to be successful. As I watched, much of what she said resonated with me as a businessperson and how WE must also do these things in order to foster success in our businesses.
Recently, I started thinking about this video again because I have been going through some shifts in my business and feeling like everything was a bit muddy and I had lost clarity. I revisited the tips from Misty and thought I would share them here as they are so poignant and relevant.
Here are the tips with my take on them:
1. Seek advice.
Never be afraid to ask for help from those who have already walked the path you’re on or who you feel are an expert at what you’re struggling with. Why re-invent the wheel? Much of business is about experience. There is always someone who is willing to offer a hand or knows someone who can help you get what you need. Or, if you’ve been in business a while, surround yourself with those trusted advisors and lean on them when times are rough or confusing. For me, I have some amazing advisors around me.
2. Be Patient.
This is a BIG ONE. Success does not happen overnight, no matter what you might think. Lately, we’ve been putting things into place that I want to take off NOW. And I keep reminding myself of the 90-day rule and to be patient to reap the fruits of my labor. All I can say is, put in time. Trust that you’ve put pieces into place that will take hold and take off. And remember, IT TAKES 90 DAYS on average for anything you do today to start coming to fruition! Be patient, Grasshopper.
3. Remember Why You Dance.
What do I mean by “dance?” It’s what you do! It’s your business, your mission. Think about WHY you are pursuing the things you’re after. You must DIG DEEP. If you don’t remember why and revisit it often, you will lose your passion and not deliver your best every day. WHY=PASSION=GROWTH.
4. Be Yourself.
We hear it all the time—be your authentic self. You must show up as YOU. People can sense if you’re not coming from a place that serves them or if you’re not being honest. You know those people who are not authentic and aren’t coming from a place of sincerity. Let’s keep it REAL, people, and business will come—you are magnetic.
5. Be Your Own Advocate.
No one can fight for you like YOU can. And no one will. This goes back to the first tip. ASK FOR HELP and ADVICE and get to know yourself and your needs. If you don’t say what you need, ask what people think, and tweak things as necessary, then persevering will be difficult. BE BRAVE.
Misty gave these tips to young dancers. I offer them to you as a person in business. Please read them and take them, swallow them, digest them, and dance to success.
If you would like to hear a bit from Misty herself, here’s the link. It’s worth the 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Enjoy!
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