Kickass Woman Slay Together

General Assembly - Kick Ass Women Slay Together

The panel were asked to describe a day in the life of – and how this helps them achieve their goals

Morning routine includes, stretching, meditation, exercise, mindfulness and / or yoga
It is so important to prioritise your workload for the day ahead as well as prioritise for tomorrow
There are significant benefits to walking for an hour in the evening – getting that fresh air, a change of scene and time away from business / your desk

Imposter syndrome

What is it and how do we over come this?

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments or talents and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud"
It is so important to quieten down the voice of doubt
Nearly everyone experiences this, but men tend to come out of it more quickly
Ways to deal with this include remembering positive feedback you have been given before and reach out to your support network who will send you on the right track
A mind-set shift has to happen
Overcoming natural blocks may take time – it’s really important to be patient with yourself

How do you deal with criticism?

This is all about mind-set – if you have had a lot of feedback and most of it is positive do not get too disheartened
However, use the feedback to objectively review and think of it in a way that can he helpful, actionable and is there context / detail around this which will specifically pinpoint what went wrong or what can be improved on, if there is then use this to learn and improve
Do always remember that you cannot please all of the people all of the time
Receiving negative feedback can be an opportunity to deliver something better, go above and beyond expectation

Journey / Mentors

There was a real agreement around we should all be mentors to each other
It is so important to have a strong work ethic
Many of us have different qualities, have had different experiences and therefore we can give different advice
It is really important to remember to trust your gut – it’s rarely wrong!
When choosing a mentor, it’s a great idea to choose the most experienced person to guide you. You can hold each other accountable, the experience will be measurable - what are your objectives, what do you want to gain from this mentorship. Pick someone who is likeminded to support you and someone who will be able to help things move quickly for you

What advice would you give your younger self?

Advice to someone working in a corporate job who may be keen to set up a side venture

Give yourself time
Give yourself at least 6 months to get the website set up, get a strategy in place and get going on social media
Allow a minimum of 12 months to get into the grit of the business, and finances
You need financial security – keep this in mind
Always be aware of when your current day job is holding you back – timing is everything
It’s so important to have a plan – make sure you do this

Asking for help – bettering yourself

Read lots – business literature, mental health books
People will help you – use your trusted network
Think about marketing and HR
Get your life organised (relationships, physical and mental health)
Get fresh air and take breaks!
Do what you do best and outsource the rest!
It’s so important to network and connect – all the time, sometimes its not who you know, but who knows you

Selling yourself

If you are moving jobs – think about why you want to move?
Is this an opportunity to develop? Will the new job have the same challenges?
Is there something you are more passionate about?
Think about your skillset, what are you great at? What can you develop in?
Talk to people who do the job that you are interested in – they will be able to give you a better overview
Then you will understand what you have and what you need to do to get it

Louise Millar

31/08/2020