The importance of using your environment to remind you of your goals, and to never forget the fact that you are a force to be reckoned with!
Ever Have “One of Those Days?”
Sometimes, even with the best of planning, the day just decides to take you where it takes you, and all you can do is ride the wave while doing your best to not lose perspective. Most of the time, I have great days — I’m productive, have great conversations with my team and with clients — and I feel accomplished.
Then, there are other days where I just know that I’m in for it. There’s just no question that it’s going to be an intense day. Like, it’s going to be a meeting-to-meeting, call-to-call, there’s no way in hell I’m gonna have time for lunch let alone have time to pee sort of day.
So what do I do? I prepare myself. Mentally. And one of the most important ways in which I prepare is by creating reminders through being intentional with my environment.
Use Reminders to Remember Your “Why”
When I know that I’m going to be facing a big day — maybe it’s a big meeting or I’m going to be spending the day onboarding a whole group of new employees — I try to wear things that will put me in the right mindset and keep me in the right mindset in case I get distracted.
Here’s what I mean:
The other day, in addition to my normal set of team meetings and client touch-bases, I was also onboarding five new employees, presenting offers to two additional potential employees, and lead 4 back-to-back client calls. It was a lot. So when I go into the day knowing that I’m facing a lot, I use this as an opportunity to incorporate meaningful things into what I’m wearing.
For instance, I have this pair of skull earring skull earrings that I always wear when I know I have a big day ahead of me. Why? Cause skulls are bad-ass. And so am I. I wear them to remind myself — when I catch quick glimpses of myself in the mirror in between racing from meeting to meeting — that I am a bad-ass, too.
Reminding Yourself to be the Best Version of Yourself
It might surprise you to learn that, at my core, I’m actually a big softie. I’m a romantic. Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday. I mean, I love love.
But over the years, I’ve learned how to be very process-driven in my work, and I have high expectations for myself and for those around me, and I find myself being very critical — openly critical — of others around me, which isn’t inherently bad, but there’s a balance.
If I’m too soft, then my team isn’t getting the feedback they need and deserve to perform to their best ability. I do fundamentally believe that you can give really harsh feedback, and you can hold people highly accountable but I also realize that If I’m too harsh in the way that I communicate with my team, then odds are they aren’t really hearing what I’m saying because they’re too hung up on how I’m saying it.
So I try to find a way to provide that honest, constructive feedback. And to remind myself of this, I have a special pair of heart-shaped sunglasses that I like to wear on my way to the office. Yes, they are a reminder to me of love, but they’re also a reminder to me that I’m here to help my teams and our clients achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. Sometimes this means they need a little tough love. And sometimes I need to remind myself that I’m the right person to deliver that message to them.
What Symbols Are Right for You?
These are just a few of the symbols that I used to remind myself of who I am, and what I’ve committed to, and how I can be my best self. The beauty of symbols is that they are personal, and that you could turn virtually anything into a symbol if it makes sense to you.
What exhilarates you? What reminds you that, no matter how crazy the day might seem or how busy you are, that you are an absolute bad-ass? What is that special thing that gives you the nudge to show a little more backbone or be a little bit softer in those moments where it would count the most?
At Cardone Ventures, our passion is helping people achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. Join us at our upcoming Business Bootcamp to be apart of an environment that will fastrack you towards your goals.