Do you ever dream of how your life would be like if you could live the way you wanted to? Do you constantly bring it up, but hardly ever do anything about it? Then a dream is just going to stay a dream. You have to take the steps to build your empire.
Many people complain about their jobs daily, but they choose to stay in that field because of the stability. They are afraid of switching industries, applying to companies they think they are not qualified for, or starting their own business and then they get to the end of their life regretting everything. They regret that they accepted low pay, jobs that had no clear path of upward mobility, or not chasing things that were actually interested in.
In this society, we value the 9 – 5 life and being able to consistently pay our bills even when we get a chance at a better job opportunity. We get too comfortable with being comfortable that anything too challenging that comes our way, we end up running away from it. Some may even attempt to take on the challenge, but they all too often give up just in the beginning stages. And that’s why you frequently hear of stories of people who gave up right before they could have had it all.
The Beginning Stages of Building Your Empire is Never Easy
You don’t just start a business or get a new job and expect to be successful in everything in the first few months. You’re going to experience some type of challenge and how you react is key. Expect to do a lot of job tasks that are not so fun in the beginning. Work is never always fun and you’ll come across a lot of things you hate doing, but you have to keep pushing through.
It’s going to get tiring at times and you’ll feel like giving up. But think of where you’ll be in the next few years if you give up? Do you really want to keep living the unhappy life you’re living right now? Perserverance is so important to becoming successful and many say they have this trait down, but then they just settle for less than what they want.
Just Working Hard isn’t Enough
There are so many people who believe that if you work hard, you’ll be successful, so they work overtime and still get nowhere. If you do what everyone else does, you are just going for average. If it’s not working, try a new direction. Try a different method.
A lot of people give up when they work so hard, but don’t get anywhere. You have to continually learn and adapt to be successful. People at the top know this and that is how they maintain their status. At any point your empire can fall apart if you don’t keep your skills updated in what is necessary for your industry.
If you lack the specialized skills, you can easily be replaced by another worker. Search for the skills that are in the highest demand in your industry, skills that employers are desperately looking for as there is a shortage and seek out to learn them.
Lack the skills to pursue your dreams? Then actively work to learn them.
No one on this earth was born with all the skills they needed for their dream career. So you shouldn’t be discouraged if you lack certain skills that would make you competitive in the job market. Everyone has to practice improving their skills.
Some ways to learn the skills you need:
- Use free video platforms like YouTube or take some affordable online classes like Udemy.
- Go to your bookstore or library and pick up some books on the topic.
- Network with those in your industry. They can help connect you with resources.
- Get the software or tools you need to practice the skills. It’s always good to try out what you learn so that you can remember it.
- Volunteer for an organization like a non-profit to practice and potentially learn from their staff.
Related article: 12 Transformative Ways to Glow Up
When You Fall, Get Right Back Up. Don’t Let Your Empire Fall Too.
Along your journey, you will fail at some point and perhaps many times. Successful people not only work hard, but they learn from their mistakes. It’s great to have a vision and drive, but you also have to have the discipline and practical skills to get through the challenging times. Create your game plan of how you are going to get from point A to point B and make sure it’s thorough.
List out your big goals and under those big goals, list out all the small steps you will take to get there. One of the top goal setting methods you can use is S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound). These goals are really specific and help you to stay on track. I highly recommend using this system so you have a clearer path and your goals won’t seem as big.
S.M.A.R.T. goal example:
- Specific: I want to learn more about what it’s like to run your own fashion design business.
- Measurable: I will network with 5 employees in the fashion design industry over the next three months.
- Attainable: I will email 5 employees to set up a meeting.
- Realistic: To achieve my goal of learning what it is like running a fashion design business, I will email 5 employees to set up a meeting so I can network with them.
- Time-Bound: To achieve my goal of learning what it is like running a fashion design business, I will email 5 employees to set up a meeting so I can network with them this month.
Start this journey today. Always keep a journal with your goals so that you can add to them and remind yourself to stay on task.
It’s a Lifelong Process to Maintain an Empire
There are going to be old structures that start deteriorating. That is when you have to go back and rebuild outdated things in your life like old toxic mindsets that prevent you from getting to where you need to be.
Focus on not just working hard, but more on having a growth mindset. You can improve your life and learn what you need to get there one step at a time. Once you start checking off the boxes of goals that you have achieved, you will feel more encouraged to keep going. Always write in your journal of things you want to accomplish, how you will accomplish them, when you will accomplish them by and create a list of what you have already accomplished.
Look in front of the mirror and give yourself words of affirmation to encourage yourself. Make your own Glow Up Queen playlist and get to work!
Need Inspiration? Create a vision board.
A vision board showcases all the major goals that you hope to accomplish in your life at any period of time in pictures and/or words. All you have to do is buy a board, magazines, glue and start cutting out what you want to put on your board to represent your goals. It can be in any area like your personal finances, self-care, career, relationships, hobbies, etc.
Just cut out some images and words, organize them in the way you like, glue them to the board, and put the board on your wall where it’s easy to see. This will serve as a daily reminder of what your goals are.
Are you ready to build your empire?
