Marie Forleo
More from Marie...
Beware of the Comparison Hangover!
“Let’s say you want to or are trying to launch a new business. You spend hours doing research on the web, looking at similar companies and reading entrepreneur bios. If you pay attention to your thoughts, you may feel discouraged—like you’ll never get there, everyone’s said or done it all, so why should you even start? When you compare yourself to others, you start forming ideas based on what they’ve done, rather than what’s true to your unique way of doing things.”
Follow unconventional wisdom.
“For a long time, I didn’t give myself permission to do all of the things I loved: dancing, coaching, writing. By letting myself be multifaceted, I realized I could be a bigger presence in the world and have a bigger impact on people’s lives, so I’ve not limited myself to be an expert in one area. When I’ve done that, I felt like I was cutting off a limb.”
Take action!
“Most people try to figure out what they’re meant to do from their mind alone, but it doesn’t bring any clarity. You have to fully engage to know if something is right for you. If you have an interest in something, take a class or volunteer—doing so may spark a great idea.”
Cooperate & Compete
July 2011
Cooperation involves two parties working together towards a common goal. The operation is sabotaged by ruthless competition where both parties try to bring each other down to get ahead. When you engage in this, you run the risk of focusing your attention on someone else’s game and not enough on your own. The end result: a loss of your power instead of the expression of your own creativity.
A self-made entrepreneur, Marie Forleo coaches women on how to get ahead, but not at the expense of someone else. She knows the benefits of cooperating, even if the person on the other end is your competitor. Just put your best foot forward—you will win some and lose some. Here, she coaches you:
If you have an idea that can be great for someone else’s business, don’t be afraid to share it. There is no such thing as scarcity of ideas and no limits on how creative you can be. When you give away information, you might get a great idea for your own company or project in return. It’s a dynamic exchange.
If there is a promotion at stake, recognize that the only person you have control over is yourself. Ask yourself: what can I do to make my work the best that it can be? Also have a certain level of trust and know that if you’re meant to get that promotion, it will happen. If you aren’t, then something better will happen down the road. Give it your best, but don’t get too caught up in this one opportunity—life’s too short.
If you have reservations about giving info away, be honest and real. Rather than skirting around the issue, say, “I have a feeling I need to keep that information to myself; that’s how I feel and I hope you can respect that.” When people tell the truth with compassion, relationships usually stay intact.
If your interaction with a colleague sparked the idea that eventually became the solution, be honest about that. Say, “Well I wound up coming up with that, but we had many conversations back and forth about it that led to my idea.”
Remember that someone who is a competitor today may turn out to be an ideal business partner tomorrow. Now more than ever, people constantly change jobs. There’s more than enough in the world to go around so don’t hold back out of fear. Think, how can I help others progress?
When another person succeeds, usually more wins and opportunities are shared by all. That person becomes a trailblazer and sets the stage for others to step into a leadership space.
From a certain perspective, there is no competition. You’re unique in your combination of skills and point of view. There is no one in the planet that is like you or can think like you. When we understand this truth, it becomes easier to embrace the notion that you have an edge and it’s easier to embrace your individuality.
When you come from a giving space, you’re cementing your individuality even more. And who’s fun to be around, the people who are stingy with their resources or the ones who are giving? When you are coming from abundance, people are likely to believe in you and your vision, and are willing to step up and lend a hand.
Hone Your Skills: Are You a Good Listener?
Hone Your Skills: Build Trust: What You Can Do
Hone Your Skills: Manage Your Boss
Hone Your Skills: Get More Feedback