How to Turn Your Weaknesses into Strengths

Sometimes I set a goal and I don’t have a clue how to achieve it. Actually, most of the time that’s the case.

But just because I’ve never done something before, doesn’t mean I can’t do it.

In fact, it could be an advantage, right?

Recently, I’ve been looking for evidence for why my weaknesses are actually my greatest advantages:

• Why is it a good thing that I’ve never done it before?

• Why is it a good thing that I don’t know how yet?

• Why is it a good thing that I’m not strong in this area yet?

Possible answers:

• Because I’m not bogged down with all the rules.

• Because I might be able to see things from a different perceptive.

• Because I’ll be able to compensate with my other strengths and bring a whole new twist to the way it can be done.
  

What if your weakness is actually your greatest strength?

How I Hit 3000 Members in My Facebook Group

Ahhh we hit 3000 members in the Impossible Girls Facebook Group! (3200, actually!!)

Three nights ago we were on 2700 members and I was feeling anxious about it. What if I’ve just told everyone I’m going to hit this goal of 3000, and I don’t?

But it happened.

800 new members in less than 25 days.

Here’s how it happened:

Short answer: Mindset

I used to get SO sick of people saying “it’s just mindset” when I asked how people did something.

I’m like GIVE ME SOME TANGIBLE ADVICE! (Anyone else feel like this?!)

So, the Tangible answer is:

1. I decided to believe it was 100% in my control.
   If it was in my control, then I could make it happen. As soon as we decide it’s based on luck or chance, we give our power away. I decided I was going to make it happen. A done deal.
   
   

2. I didn’t sit around waiting. I invited people from EVERYWHERE. I took risks by sharing content in other Facebook groups that I felt nervous to share in case I was judged (ironically, it’s always the posts I’m most scared to post that get the best reaction!).
   
   

3. I didn’t DM strangers asking them to join. I didn’t make people feel like they HAD to join. Instead of “please please please join my group!” I showed up with an energy of “We’ve got the best thing ever going on over here… but hey, if it’s not your vibe, that’s cool too.” Zero desperate energy. I learned this lesson from past mistakes (in relationships and in business!).
   
   

4. Anytime I got worried it wouldn’t happen (because those sneaky thoughts sometimes came in), I made a list of why it WOULD happen. Not just why thought it might happen, but an actual fool-proof plan of exactly WHY it was definitely going to happen. A list of steps.
   – Because I’m willing to do whatever it takes
   – Because there is ALWAYS a way
   – Because I’m going to do X, Y and Z to make it happen.
   
   

5. I thought outside the box. What would I do if I were Michael Jordan? How would Sara Blakely solve this? If I had 24 hours to make it happen, what would I do? I just kept asking myself, “It is already done – so how did it happen?”
   
   

6. I didn’t try to do it alone. I shared that I wanted to hit the goal in this group, with other groups, on my blog and to people offline (and you girls came forward like a badass army, heaps of you added your friends without me even asking you to!).

We DID it. Thank you!

There are still 5 more days in December. What goals are you deciding you’re going to hit before 2021?

The Second Kind of Time

I recently learned that the ancient Greeks perceived two different kinds of time:

1. Chronos: The time we’re used to; forward-propelling time that goes in chronological order. Time is measured quantitatively.

2. Kairos: The time we experience when we’re in “flow”. Time stands still. We’re totally present and involved in what we’re doing. We forget time exists. Time is measured qualitatively.

I love the idea of Kairos, and I want to experience more of it. I most frequently experience it when I’m dancing, chatting with friends, and particularly during the holiday season where normal to-dos are long forgotten and I can just be in the moment.

One of the ways I’m attempting to experience more Kairos is to detach myself physically from my phone – and all the apps in it. I just deleted nearly every app from my phone, and I’m LOVING it. That means any time I want to spend working needs to be on my computer, in my office. Anytime not there, I can’t work.

What could you do to experience more Kairos?

Should You Work On More Than One Goal at Once?

In my Impossible Goal Setting Workshop the other day, I got asked – should you work on more than one goal at once or focus all your energy on one goal?

Of course, like with anything goal-related, there is no right answer – you get to choose. But here’s my take:

1. Create a big vision, and go wild setting goals without a timeline. Dream up everything you want to do – the most impossible things you can imagine.

2. Create a 1-year plan. Choose 3 impossible goals you’re going to hit. Work on them like crazy – all at once. But when it comes down to the crux of a goal, where it requires more of your energy to cross the finish line, drop everything and focus on just that one goal. Eat, sleep, breathe that one goal – for a short, sustainable period. Once you’ve hit that goal, go back to the other two.

Do you like working on lots of goals at once or just one at a time? Let me know in the comments by clicking the title of this post.

2021 Impossible Goal Setting: 6 Questions to Ask Yourself

2021 is SO close. That means if you haven’t already, it’s definitely time to set some goals for the next year.

I recently led a workshop on goal setting, and I thought I would share the most important questions I asked my attendees.

1. What is your biggest, most impossible vision for your life? (Beyond this year, the next 5 or 10 years).

   • What do you really, really, really want? (Be honest)

   • If you’re struggling to answer, think about the categories of relationships, career, health, love, hobbies.

   • What are other people doing that you secretly love to do? 
     

2. If you could only achieve 3 things that would get you closer to that vision this year, what would you want them to be?
   

3. Which dreams are NOT coming true this year in order to make space for these ones? (Make an anti-goal list).
   

4. Why is each of your three goals non-negotiable? Why are they important to you?
   

5. What are you willing to do to make each of these three things happen?
   

6. Of those things, what single action would GUARANTEE that each goal happens? Set that as your action step!

When Stuff Goes Wrong, Get Back on the Horse

I’ve had one of those days where everything seems to go pear-shaped.

• I forgot to record the first part of my workshop

• I had food in my teeth the whole time I was talking and didn’t realise

• I got a headache and fell asleep in the middle of the day, putting everything behind schedule

• I accidentally sat in a puddle (yes, really)

Even though none of these are real problems and won’t affect me tomorrow, it still made me CRINGE and want to run away and avoid all of my responsibilities.

But even though it sucks, I’m still choosing to show up for the things that will move me towards my goals today.

Because I want to be the kind of person who shows up even when she doesn't feel like it.

I spoke in another blog post about how Will Smith says he doesn't care what his in-the-moment feelings tell him. He says that what he feels like in the moment never gets a say in his success.

Feelings are short term. Results are forever.

Essentialism

I’ve been thinking a lot about minimalism. Not minimalism of stuff, but minimalism of lifestyle.

Only bringing into my life what truly matters. Letting go of the rest.

I’ve also been listening to Greg McKeown’s Essentialism book, and it’s totally been transforming my way of looking at what I need to do in my life.

Do I really need to be checking social media THAT much? Even if I use it for business?

Do I really need to have THAT many things on my to do list? Could some of them be reduced?

Do I really need to bring THAT much stuff with me? Will I really need it?

The answer is usually no. Almost always.

So I’m learning to declutter my own process of decision making.

Leaving only what is essential.

Nike Were Right

Thinking about doing the thing is the hard part. Doing it is easy.

I’ve had all sorts of thoughts that have lead to stress over the past couple of days, and yet, when it comes down to it – none of it is really that stressful. I just need to do the thing.

Nike were right.

Change The Thought You’re Thinking & You Can Change Everything

Our thoughts control how we feel, and our feelings control our actions, and our actions control our results.

If you want a different result, choose a new thought.

Easier said than done – but when done, it’s like magic.

The Big Question On My Mind for 2021

In 2019, I shared that my biggest learning lesson of the year was If it matters, do it daily.

And in 2020, I lived by the words Relentless Effort.

In 2021, the question I want to ask myself every single day is Now that I am already X, what do I do?

This isn’t a new question to me – I’ve spoken about it a lot (it’s how I overcame my fear of flying).

But in 2020, it totally hit home, and it has changed my entire life.

Now that I am already (my ideal self/my future self/Michael Jordan/the healthiest me) what do I do?

And then live into that.