SC Calhoun Training & Coaching

Motivation Monday: EmpowerHer - Your SuperPOWER

When I look at this picture, I see power, strength, and dignity. I see a woman who is surer than ever about what she wants out of life, but there was a time I couldn’t say that, especially with regards to my career. I started my career 25 years ago in an old dingy building called Chevrolet Central Office outside of Detroit, MI. I was fresh out of college and excited. I had landed a job making more money than I’d ever seen in my life, and I thought I’d made it big! Sidenote: If I’d only known better. LOL! But that’s another story for a different day. I began a program called the System Engineering Development program with Electronic Data Systems along with a group of other college grads. We were so green and ready to take on the world. I was ready! Or so I thought. I didn’t know I was in for one of the biggest challenges a woman can face in her career, the struggle to shape her career journey while remaining true to self.

See I expected a straight shot up the career ladder, but the reality was more like climbing a rugged mountain... John Maxwell says everything worth having is uphill. Sometimes when I hear him say that during a conference, I just want to yell out, “Does it really have to be that way?!” Because that uphill climb isn’t fun and sometimes painful, and it can be tempting to try the easy way out by emulating what seems to work for others, but that never works does it? I’ve learned the struggle turned out to be one of the best things to happen for me, because it led me to career options I would have never imagined.

It was in that uphill climb that I discovered and embraced my SuperPOWERs, those unique mixtures of skills, talents, accomplishments, and strengths that empowers me to be great at what I do... It’s not until you discover what those are for you, that you’ll be able to shape your career as you see fit, because your SuperPOWERs are unique to only you and they are exactly what you need to EmpowerYou.

If this sounds like you and you need a little help discovering your SuperPOWERs, I’m here to help.

Nicole Calhoun, The Career Conscious Coach

www.sccalhoun.com

Motivation Monday: Did you know that 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives? 70%!!! (Time Magazine 2018)

Imposter Syndrome is “persisting self-doubt and feelings of incompetence despite your education, your experience, and your accomplishments.” But what is the root of imposter syndrome? Comparison to the success of others. How can we compare if no two people are alike? No one has the exact same experiences, skills, talents, or opportunities, so we’ll never be where someone else is at any given time. And if someone is successful in a specific area of interest to you, what if you leveraged their experience? Learn from them? Ask them to become a mentor.

Can I tell you a secret? There will always be people ahead of you. That’s a good thing. You don’t want to be the smartest person in the room all of the time, if you do, you’ll remain stagnant. So instead of comparing yourself to someone else, learn from them. This will help your career and will help you get unstuck.

Nicole Calhoun, The Career Conscious Coach
www.sccalhoun.com