Are You in a Hurry to Get to the Top?

By Carly Anderson

Has anyone noticed that the world is on fast forward? There is so much to do, so much to read (thanks to the free flow of information via the Internet) and a limited amount of hours to do it all.

Do you relate to any one of these; rushing around, speeding in the car, being impatient with others, watching the clock, a messy desk, eating high sugar content foods, drinking excessive caffeine or venting your frustration? It may be that you are living in a state of being adrenalined up. This may be causing serious consequences to your physical well-being, especially the immune system, your peace of mind and the ability to sustain vital energy levels over a longer period of time.

Our environments can give us clues as to what needs to change for us to get to the top and stay there. Starting with your physical environment, what do you see? Take a step back for a moment to observe if this is the type of space that makes you feel creative, focused and relaxed. What do you need to get rid of, do less of or have more of to make your work environment a better place for you? Commit to doing ten things today that clean up your physical environment.

There are also virtual environments, such as our environments of support and creativity.

Support is a catch cry used more by women than by men. It's important to recognise that it's okay, and essential, to set up an environment of support, in order to be a more successful businesswoman. We all need support from others in order to be more successful, and less stressful!

Even for those who like to be one-woman-bands, you probably have access to an Accountant and a Computer Technician (an essential accessory in anyone's tool kit) at minimum. Write a list of where you have support in your life (including specific names or groups of people) and write another list of where you do not. Which list is bigger? The key is to make the first list ten times longer than the second list. Creativity is often misunderstood. I was guilty of thinking I wasn't creative because I worked with a team who were Creative types. I now know otherwise. An environment of creativity has internal and external components. Creativity happens when we aren't trying to be creative! When we stop, and still the mind, we create an internal environment conducive to bringing forth ideas and solutions. How many times do you Get creative when in the shower, or in the middle of the night? We can choose to be in a state of creativity deliberately by setting time aside each day just to sit in silence or walk in nature. I have heard that Simon Reynolds (advertising guru and successful entrepreneur) has some of his best creative ideas when running along the beach! Working harder, and getting adrenalined up, is the least effective strategy for bringing forth creativity.

We as businesswomen, can make a huge contribution to the evolving nature of business, by allowing our feminine qualities to shine through, which will create its own unique expression of power and leadership in the business arena. Being in a hurry to get to the top can strip us of the joy of living, and of being a woman.

If you would like to take a short self test on Adrenaline, to check out how much of a hurry you may be in, send an e-mail to carly@successforbusinessppl.com.au and she will e-mail it to you. Carly Anderson is an experienced executive, personal and business coach. She can be reached by phone on: 02 9953 1088.