Answering these three questions can help achieve your dreams
I stood up on tip toe to see over the counter. My McDonald’s hamburger was on the tray. Just beyond that, big and busy strangers yelled out orders, filled cups with fizzing drinks, and counted out change. No one noticed the three-year-old peeping over the counter. A few minutes before, I had been disappointed to unwrap a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger, and then was shocked when my daddy didn’t fix it for me while I went to hang out with Hamburgler and the crew on the prison-themed playground. Instead, here I was, facing one of my first negotiations while my dad watched from our table. I had a super-power though – his absolute confidence that I could do it. He told me I could, I believed it, and then I did. I didn’t realize it as I happily ate my cheeseburger before heading out to scale the Officer Big Mac tower, but the memory of this early success would be a key touchstone for me.
“You can do it.” The words are powerful in their simplicity. It is a mindset I have carried into my biggest challenges. Negotiating billion-dollar deals is daunting, but starting with the core belief that you will navigate the minefields and find the right balance of give and take to shape a deal that works for everyone is what pulls me through the thorniest moments. As a leader, I bring that same confidence to my team and to my mentees. I believe they can do it, then it’s just a matter of helping them map out the path to success and celebrating the wins. As a parent, I taught my son “You are not allowed to say ‘I can’t.’ Tell me you need help instead.” That is so important, because confidence isn’t about ego, talent, or ability. True confidence looks in the mirror and asks, “How do I need to grow?” “What do I need to learn?” And “Who do I need to bring with me?” Right now, I am working on my first novel, and these are the questions I wrestle with constantly. I’m confident I will create something I’m proud of though, and that motivates me to keep writing.
Super-powers are better with friends, so I want to leave you with this. You can do it. Think about whatever it is you have been longing for. Imagine you’ve done it. How great does it feel? Keep that image firmly in mind, ask yourself those three key questions, and then go for it. I believe in you, and if there is anything I can do to help you on your journey – reach out. You can find me on LinkedIn.
